Taiyuan High-Rise Fire Kills 14 in Northern China

The Taiyuan building fire killed at least 14 people on Sunday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Monday, in a blaze at a high-rise in the capital of China’s northern Shanxi province.

By Monday afternoon, 25 people were still in hospital, including nine with serious injuries, according to state media citing the authorities. The fire had broken out in the downtown building at 4:59pm local time on Sunday.

Taiyuan building fire spread floor by floor

The blaze broke out in a 40-storey mixed-use tower on a busy downtown main road, Reuters reported. Smoke rose over the tower as firefighters worked from cranes outside to bring the flames under control.

The state broadcaster said the fire seemed to begin near the fourth floor of a lower annex and then reach the eighth and ninth floors, where a hotel is located. The tower mixes homes and businesses, with several hotels, short-term rental flats, smaller venues and tutoring centres for children.

Crews had the flames out within about two hours, and the rescue operation wound up by 8:30pm on Sunday after 38 people had been taken to hospital. Five deaths were confirmed that night, and the toll climbed to 14 by Monday morning.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, state media said. The Yingze district government said all-out efforts were being made to treat the injured, and follow-up work for the victims and their families was under way.

Condolences from Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the loss of life, according to a statement by the presidency.

“Our hearts go out to the bereaved families and to the leadership and people of China,” the president was quoted as saying. He reaffirmed that Pakistan and China share an enduring bond of friendship and brotherhood, adding that the people of Pakistan stand in full solidarity with their Chinese brothers and sisters in this hour of sorrow.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended condolences to the Chinese leadership, the people and the bereaved families.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic fire in China’s Shanxi province,” he said in a post on X. “On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, and on my own behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to President Xi Jinping and the bereaved families.”

The prime minister prayed for the swift and full recovery of those injured. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Shanxi and the leadership of China in this hour of grief,” he said.

Cause still unknown as safety questions return

No official cause has been given yet, and the authorities have not said when their findings will be released. The investigation will look at how a fire that began low in the building reached the hotel floors above, and whether warning and sprinkler systems in the tower worked as they should.

The fire has put the spotlight back on high-rise safety in China. The country began a nationwide drive against fire hazards in high-rise buildings in November last year.

Pakistan and China work closely across trade, skills and space, as shown by 14 joint skills projects and a Pakistani astronaut’s place on China’s space station programme. High-level contact between the two countries continues, including a recent visit to Pakistan by a senior Chinese Communist Party official.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in Taiyuan?

A fire broke out at 4:59pm on Sunday, November 8, in a 40-storey mixed-use building in downtown Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province in northern China. At least 14 people were killed and 38 were taken to hospital.

How many people were hurt?

Thirty-eight people were taken to hospital. By Monday afternoon, 25 remained in hospital, nine of them with serious injuries. Five deaths were confirmed on Sunday night, and the toll rose to 14 on Monday morning.

What caused the fire?

The cause is still under investigation. State media said the fire appears to have started around the fourth floor of a lower annex before spreading to the eighth and ninth floors, which house a hotel.

What did Pakistan say?

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief and said Pakistan stands in solidarity with China. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent condolences to President Xi Jinping and the bereaved families, and prayed for the recovery of the injured.

How long did it take to put the fire out?

Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about two hours. Rescue operations ended at 8:30pm on Sunday night.