A fire that broke out in an apartment building in northern China has killed at least 14 people, state media said, raising the death toll from the previous night.
Deadly fires are relatively common due to lax building codes and an often slipshod approach to workplace safety.
The blaze occurred in a building in Shanxi province’s Taiyuan city around 5pm local time on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency said that evening.
“A total of 38 people were sent to hospitals for treatment, among whom five have died,” Xinhua reported, raising the death toll to 14 yesterday.
The flames were extinguished on Sunday, with search and rescue efforts completed, it said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
China launched a campaign against fire hazards in high-rise buildings last November, after a huge blaze engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people.
A month later, a fire at a residential building in Guangdong province killed 12 people. And in July, a fire at a shoe factory killed at least 28 people. — AFP
