Xinyu: A devastating building fire in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, east China, on Wednesday afternoon resulted in 39 fatalities and nine injuries, according to local authorities. The fire erupted around 3 p.m. in the Yushui District of Xinyu, with nearly 120 firefighters working to conclude rescue operations by 8:50 p.m. Fortunately, there were no remaining individuals trapped.
The six-story commercial and residential brick-concrete structure witnessed the fire originating in the basement, swiftly spreading to shops on the first and second floors. Preliminary findings indicate that the illegal use of fire during the refurbishment of a cold storage unit in the basement triggered the blaze. Thick smoke quickly enveloped the building up to the second floor, which housed training facilities and a hotel.
Of the nine injured, eight are in stable condition, while one is still undergoing rescue efforts. Public security authorities have taken 12 individuals into custody in connection with the incident.