A fire broke out at a shopping mall in Zigong, a city in southwestern China, on Wednesday evening, July 17, 2024, resulting in the deaths of 16 people. The blaze, which started in a 14-story commercial building, prompted a swift response from firefighters and rescue teams who managed to save 75 people. Investigators suspect construction work may have sparked the fire, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
The fire began shortly after 6 p.m. at the bustling mall, which houses a department store, offices, restaurants, and a movie theater. According to state media reports, the flames quickly spread through the lower levels of the building, generating thick black smoke that billowed out of windows and enveloped the entire structure.
Social media posts captured the dramatic scene, showing flames licking the sky as firefighters battled the blaze with water sprays and drones.
Resident Li Wanyu, who was shopping at an underground grocery store in the mall when the fire started, recounted her experience. “At first, I thought it was just a drill when the staff started evacuating us,” she said. “I didn’t realize what was happening right away. I felt confused rather than scared and exited the building with everyone else.”
Firefighters and rescue teams worked tirelessly to control the fire and evacuate those trapped inside the building. Despite their efforts, the fire took nearly 10 hours to extinguish. A local media source reported that 75 people were pulled to safety during the rescue operations.
The Zigong fire is part of a troubling trend of increasing fire incidents in China. Li Wanfeng, a spokesperson for the National Fire and Rescue Administration, noted a 19% rise in fire fatalities in the first several months of this year compared to last year. “The number of fires in public places such as hotels and restaurants rose 40%, with the most common causes being electrical or gas line malfunctions and carelessness,” Li stated.
In January, a fire caused by unauthorized welding in the basement of a commercial building in Jiangxi province killed 39 people. In February, another 15 people lost their lives in a residential building fire in Nanjing, which was ignited by an electric bike in an attached parking lot.
Fire hazards remain a significant issue in China, with systemic factors contributing to the problem. Ineffective and corrupt inspection offices, powerful property managers who ignore safety violations, and pressure to maintain rapid economic growth often compromise fire safety regulations. The 1998 Fire Control Law of the People’s Republic of China, revised to provide more specific guidelines on inspections and enforcement, still lacks mechanisms to ensure effective implementation at local and provincial levels.
The government has made efforts to improve fire safety, including incorporating fire control plans into urban planning, ensuring that construction projects undergo rigorous fire control design review and approval, and mandating fire safety checks for public venues before they open. However, these measures have not been sufficient to prevent increasing fire incidents.
