Eight Killed, One Injured in Textile Factory Fire in Southern China
FOSHAN, CHINA — WEB DESK: At least eight people were killed and one injured after a fire broke out at a textile factory in the southern Chinese city of Foshan, authorities said on Monday.
The blaze occurred on Sunday in Foshan, a major industrial city in Guangdong province. According to state media and local authorities, the fire began at approximately 3:12pm local time inside a two-storey building at an industrial park.
The facility was involved in washing denim fabric, according to Reuters, which cited Chinese state media. Firefighters brought the blaze under control roughly an hour after it began.
Eight people were confirmed dead and another person was injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Search-and-rescue operations have since been completed, according to the latest information reported by Reuters.
Despite the severity of the fire, authorities said it did not spread to neighbouring buildings in the industrial park.
Verified video footage from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the affected building while a taller structure nearby appeared unaffected, Reuters reported.
China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, cited by Anadolu and other international outlets, also reported eight fatalities and one injury. Initial reports placed the start of the fire at around 3pm on Sunday.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the blaze. No official conclusion regarding the cause had been announced in the latest reports reviewed.
The incident has again drawn attention to workplace and fire safety in China’s large manufacturing sector. However, until investigators release their findings, it would be premature to attribute the Foshan fire to equipment failure, safety violations or any other specific cause.
The casualty figures should also remain attributed to Chinese authorities as the investigation continues.
