Official Chinese media reported on Thursday that a fire broke out in an administrative building of a coal company in Shanxi province in northern China, resulting in the death of 25 people.
The fire erupted at 6:50 am in a four-story building belonging to the Yongjia Coal Company in Shanxi, the largest coal production center in China, in the Lishi area of Lu Liang city.
Earlier, China Central Television had stated that the fire had left at least 11 dead and 51 injured, but the death toll was subsequently raised twice.
The injured were transported to the First People’s Hospital in Lu Liang for treatment.
The network confirmed that “rescue operations are ongoing, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.”
Video clips shared on local social media showed the building engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke rising from its upper floors, while firefighting and emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Industrial accidents are common in China due to lax enforcement of safety standards.
In July, 11 people died in the collapse of the roof of a sports hall at a school in the northeast of the country.
Last October, an explosion at a restaurant in northwestern China killed 31 people. Following that incident, authorities pledged to implement a national campaign to enhance workplace safety.
