A fire erupted in a shopping mall in Zigong, a southwestern city in China, on Wednesday evening, July 17, 2024, leading to the loss of 16 lives. The fire initiated in a 14-story commercial structure, causing firefighters and rescue teams to respond promptly, managing to rescue 75 individuals. Investigators postulate that construction activities might have triggered the fire, though the precise cause is still under scrutiny.
The fire started just after 6 p.m. in the busy mall, which accommodates a department store, offices, eateries, and a cinema. State media reports indicate that the fire rapidly spread across the building’s lower floors, producing thick black smoke that poured from windows and shrouded the entire edifice.
People captured the intense scene on social media, showing flames reaching towards the sky while firefighters fought the fire using water jets and drones.
“At first, I thought it was just a drill when the staff started evacuating us,” reported Li Wanyu, a resident who was shopping in the mall’s underground grocery store when the fire broke out. “I didn’t realize what was happening right away. I felt confused rather than scared and left the building with everyone else.”
Firefighters and rescue teams devoted their efforts to contain the fire and evacuate those trapped in the building. Despite their endeavors, the fire took nearly 10 hours to completely extinguish. A local media source reported that 75 people were safely evacuated during the rescue operations.
The fire incident in Zigong forms part of an alarming pattern of escalating fire incidents in China. Li Wanfeng, a representative for the National Fire and Rescue Administration, mentioned a 19% increase in fire fatalities in the first few months of this year compared to the same period last year. “Fires in public places like hotels and restaurants increased by 40%, with the most common causes being electrical or gas line malfunctions and carelessness,” Li stated.
Earlier in January, a fire caused by unauthorized welding in a commercial building’s basement in Jiangxi province resulted in 39 deaths. In February, another fire in a residential building in Nanjing, ignited by an electric bike in an attached parking area, caused 15 fatalities.
Fire hazards continue to be a substantial concern in China, with systemic factors contributing to the problem. Factors such as inept and corrupt inspection offices, influential property managers who disregard safety infractions, and the pressure to sustain rapid economic growth often undermine fire safety regulations. The Fire Control Law of the People’s Republic of China, revised in 1998 to provide more specific guidelines on inspections and enforcement, still lacks mechanisms to ensure effective implementation at local and provincial levels.
The government has taken steps to enhance fire safety, including incorporating fire control plans into urban planning, ensuring that construction projects undergo comprehensive fire control design review and approval, and mandating fire safety checks for public venues before their inauguration. However, these measures have not been adequate to prevent the rise in fire incidents.