Management personnel from the owner and property management company of an apartment building in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, have been detained following a fire that killed 14 people and injured 25 others, local authorities said on Monday.
The fire broke out at 4:59 pm on Sunday at an apartment building in the Yingze district. As of Monday afternoon, 25 people remained hospitalized, including nine in critical condition, four with serious injuries, and 12 with minor injuries, according to a news conference held by the Taiyuan municipal government on Monday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the result will be released to the public, in accordance with laws and regulations, to deliver a responsible account to the families of the deceased and the injured, an official from Taiyuan said.
Firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:04 pm, and the flames were extinguished by 7 pm. Search and rescue operations concluded at 8:30 pm, with 60 trapped people evacuated or rescued.
Following the fire, local authorities established an emergency response team to coordinate rescue operations, medical treatment, and other relief efforts.
The emergency response involved more than 1,500 personnel deployments, including 243 firefighters from 13 fire stations, supported by 41 fire engines.
All-out efforts are being made to treat the injured. Authorities dispatched 24 ambulances and more than 100 medical personnel deployments to transport and treat the injured. Medical resources at the provincial and municipal levels have been coordinated, and a dedicated team and customized treatment plan have been arranged for each patient. A medical expert team dispatched by the National Health Commission also arrived at a designated hospital to provide guidance.
Post-incident work includes comforting the families of the deceased, providing psychological support for the injured, and handling accident compensation, according to the news conference.
Local authorities said priority will be given to vulnerable family members, including the elderly, the sick, and those living alone, with their needs addressed in a timely manner.
With fire safety as the priority, the government will keep a close watch on risks in key industries and sectors and launch a citywide inspection and rectification campaign targeting safety hazards to safeguard people's lives and property.
