Shopping malls urged to review safety protocols after tragedy

Shanghai authorities have called for a citywide security check in shopping malls, restaurants and other businesses after a 6-year-old was killed by a falling mirror in a dressing room on Saturday.

The accident happened at a clothing outlet owned by Hong Kong fashion brand IT, located on the second floor of Feizhou International shopping mall in downtown Shanghai, where the girl identified as Yao Xinyi was shopping with her parents and grandmother.

The mirror, weighing 50 to 60 kilograms, suddenly fell on the girl, who died of severe head injuries after arriving at nearby Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital.

Shanghai Consumer Council has called for extensive checks across the city, especially for dressing room mirrors in shopping malls.

It is not uncommon to find dressing room mirrors simply leaning against the wall, many netizens posted.

"We are sorry for what has happened," said Qiu Tian, the shopping mall's manager. "We've made extensive security checks on all outlets to ensure no similar tragedies happen again."

On Monday night, representatives from IT and the mall sent a team to the child's family to express their condolences.

"The safety of the victim's family is our top concern," said Qiu, adding that the victim's mother is seven months pregnant, and it is important to guarantee the safety of the mother and the baby.

"We have colleagues go to their apartment to check the situation every day and also hired psychological counselors for the family," Qiu said.

According to Xu Yinchao, the victim's aunt, Yao was an adorable and optimistic girl and was a model when she was three years old because of her beautiful appearance.

"She was supposed to represent her kindergarten to attend a dancing competition on Friday," Xu said.