A fire tore through a residential building in southern China on Tuesday night, claiming the lives of 12 people.
The blaze erupted around 9:20 pm in a four-story building located in Shantou, Guangdong province. Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames shortly after 10:00 pm.
According to the local fire department, the affected property was a self-built reinforced concrete structure. The fire scorched an area of approximately 150 square meters (1,600 square feet).
Casualties and Context
Initial reports on Wednesday morning stated that eight people had died and four others were injured and taken to the hospital. However, updated reports later confirmed that the death toll had risen to 12.
Authorities stated that investigations into the cause of the fire and post-disaster handling are currently underway.
This tragedy follows a massive blaze last month in neighboring Hong Kong, where fire engulfed several high-rise residential towers, resulting in 160 deaths. That incident prompted China to launch a campaign targeting fire hazards in high-rise buildings.