At least 13 children have tragically lost their lives in a devastating fire that broke out in a boarding school dormitory in Yanshanpu, China. The fire at the Yingcai boarding school in the village of Yanshanpu, Henan province, was reported to firefighters at 11:00 p.m. local time on Friday. Thirteen students died and another was injured, according to state media reports.
A teacher told the Hebei Daily that all the victims were students from the same primary class, aged between 9 and 10 years old. The injured individual is currently receiving treatment in the hospital and is said to be in stable condition.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames by 11:38 p.m. However, local authorities are still investigating the origin of the fire, and at least one person linked to the school has been arrested.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many expressing anger and demanding authorities to impose sanctions if safety regulations were not respected. Videos posted on social media before the tragedy show children at the school, with some being of preschool age, wearing the school emblem and older students learning calligraphy.
Deadly fires are unfortunately common in China due to low safety standards and lax enforcement. In light of previous fire tragedies, President Xi Jinping urged the country to carry out comprehensive investigations into hidden dangers in key industries and to improve emergency plans and prevention measures.
The individuals and families affected by this tragedy are in the thoughts and prayers of many, as the true extent of the impact of this fire continues to unfold.