Authorities in China reported that a fire in a restaurant in Liaoyang, northeast China, resulted in at least 22 deaths and three injuries.
The fire started around 12:25 p.m. local time on April 29, 2025, during a busy lunch period, trapping many patrons inside the multi-story building.
Footage from the scene shows large flames emerging from the windows and doors of the two- or three-story structure, with heavy black smoke rising into the air. Onlookers fled the area as the fire consumed the building.
Emergency services quickly responded to the incident, dispatching over 20 fire trucks and 85 firefighters to control the blaze in the residential neighborhood. The manager of the restaurant has been detained as officials investigate the fire’s cause.
Preliminary reports suggested the fire may have been caused by discarded cigarettes or electrical issues. Investigators have ruled out a gas explosion or arson. Strong winds and flammable decorations reportedly accelerated the fire’s spread throughout the building.
President Xi Jinping issued a directive following the incident, calling it “a deeply sobering lesson” and emphasized the need for swift treatment of the injured. He urged officials to “determine the cause of the fire, and hold those responsible accountable,” stressing the importance of preventing major accidents during the upcoming May Day holiday.
Safety experts indicated that the absence of an emergency exit in the restaurant may have contributed to the high fatality rate, as many diners were trapped without a way to escape.
Liaoyang, situated in Liaoning province, is part of China’s industrial rust belt. This region, once a manufacturing hub, has faced economic challenges in recent years.
Industrial accidents are common in China, often due to safety issues, poorly maintained infrastructure, and inadequate regulation enforcement. Traditional Chinese cooking methods, which may involve large open flames for wok cooking or “hot pot” dishes, can increase fire risks in restaurant settings.
This incident follows other deadly fires across China. In July 2024, a fire at a shopping mall in Zigong, Sichuan province, killed 16 people. Firefighters rescued around 75 individuals from the 14-story commercial building, which housed a department store, offices, restaurants, and a movie theater. Preliminary investigations indicated that construction operations triggered that fire.
In January, another fire claimed 39 lives in a commercial building in Jiangxi province after unauthorized welding work in the basement ignited flammable materials. The following month, 15 people died when a fire starting in an attached parking lot containing electric bikes spread to a residential building in Nanjing.
In April, a fire broke out in a nursing home in Hebei province, resulting in 20 elderly residents’ deaths.
“The number of fires in public places such as hotels and restaurants has risen to 40 percent,” noted officials in a recent safety report, attributing many incidents to malfunctioning electrical or gas lines and general carelessness. Statistics indicate a 19 percent increase in fire fatalities in China during the first several months of this year compared to the same period last year.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has urged provincial officials to enhance safety measures nationwide and learn lessons from these incidents to prevent future tragedies. President Xi called on local governments to improve emergency response plans and intensify safety inspections before the upcoming holiday, when increased travel and commercial activity typically occur.
China has historically experienced various incidents, including fires, stampedes, and transport accidents, during major holiday periods, when businesses and transportation systems operate at peak capacity.