A devastating fire broke out at a restaurant in Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, in northeastern China on Tuesday, claiming the lives of 22 people and injuring three others, according to official reports from state broadcaster CCTV and news agency Xinhua. The blaze erupted at 12:25 p.m. local time in a residential neighborhood, rapidly engulfing the two- or three-story building. Social media videos showed intense orange flames consuming the storefront, with smoke billowing as emergency responders worked to evacuate patrons and provide medical aid.
Chinese authorities dispatched 22 fire trucks and 85 firefighters to the scene, successfully completing rescue operations and evacuating all individuals from the premises. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. President Xi Jinping described the tragedy as “a deeply sobering lesson,” urging local officials to prioritize treatment of the injured, support for victims’ families, and a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
This incident adds to a recent string of deadly fires and explosions across China, including a nursing home fire in Hebei Province in April that killed 20 people, and gas leak explosions last year in Hebei and Shenzhen that caused multiple casualties. Industrial accidents remain a persistent safety challenge in China, often linked to lapses in adherence to safety regulations.
The Liaoning restaurant fire underscores ongoing concerns about fire safety enforcement and emergency preparedness in public venues, prompting renewed calls for stricter oversight and preventive measures to avoid future tragedies.