Fire at North-Eastern China Restaurant Claims 22 Lives

A devastating fire at a restaurant in the northeastern Chinese city of Liaoyang claimed the lives of 22 people and left three others injured on Tuesday, according to local media reports. 

The blaze, which erupted around midday, is still under investigation as authorities work to determine its cause.

 Fires in public buildings are a recurring issue in China, often linked to poor enforcement of safety regulations.

President Xi Jinping, speaking in Shanghai, urged emergency responders to make every effort to treat the injured and support the victims’ families.

He also ordered a swift investigation into the cause of the fire and called on local authorities nationwide to strengthen safety measures ahead of the upcoming Labour Day holiday on May 1, a peak travel period across the country.

Liaoyang, home to approximately 1.83 million people in its wider metropolitan area, is located in Liaoning province, south of the regional capital Shenyang.

dpa/NAN