Thirty-eight people were killed and some other injured after a fire spread at a production plant in a facory in Henan province of central China on Monday afternoon, state media said, citing local authorities.
State media on Tuesday said rescue services first received reports of a fire at local time 4:22 p.m. at Kaixinda Trading Co. Ltd., reports Arab News.
“After receiving the alarm, the municipal fire rescue detachment immediately dispatched forces to the scene,” CCTV reported.
“Public security, emergency response, municipal administration, and power supply units rushed to the scene at the same time to carry out emergency handling and rescue work,” it said, adding the fire was extinguished by around 11 p.m. local time.
Footage from the scene shared by state media showed thick plumes of black smoke from the fire when at least two trucks in position to battle the flames.
Another video showed the charred hull of the building after the fire was extinguished.
In addition to the dead, two were sent to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, the state-run People’s Daily said.
Authorities said “criminal suspects” had been taken into custody in connection with the fire, but did not provide further details.
No reason has been identified for the cause of the blaze so far.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
