Published on : Saturday, August 25, 2018
The tragedy added to a string of deadly blazes that have plagued China despite official efforts to improve public safety over the past two decades.
The fire broke out at the Beilong Hot Spring Hotel in the popular Harbin’s Sun Island resort area, according to an employee of the city emergency office who would give only his surname, Wang. He said at least 18 people were confirmed dead but he had no information about injuries or other details.
The deadly fire at the four-story, brick-and-concrete building started at 4:36 a.m. and was extinguished at 7:50 a.m. by a force of 105 firefighters with 30 fire trucks, state television reported. It said 16 people were rescued and some sent to hospitals but gave no details of injuries.
The video on China Central Television’s social media account showed firefighters spraying water onto the smoke-blacked hotel. The fire trucks and ambulances stood in the tree-lined street. The cause was under investigation.
The ruling Communist Party of China has tried to improve fire safety following deadly blazes at hotels, shopping malls and apartment buildings. But the country still suffers major fires. In November, a fire blamed on faulty wiring at a Beijing apartment building killed 19 people.