A fire that erupted at a vegetable market in northern China on Saturday claimed the lives of eight people and left 15 others injured, according to local authorities.
“The injured have been sent to hospital for treatment and are currently not in life-threatening danger,” the Qiaoxi District People’s Government stated following the incident in Zhangjiakou city, located northwest of Beijing.
The blaze at Liguang Market ignited around 8:40 am (0040 GMT) and was brought under control by shortly after 10:00 am, as reported by district officials.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Footage circulating online, verified by AFP, captured scenes of thick smoke rising as people fled the market.
Other clips depicted firefighters working to extinguish the flames and rescuing individuals from the site.
Fires resulting in fatalities are not uncommon in China, often attributed to poor enforcement of building regulations and workplace safety standards.
In October, a fire in Chengdu left 24 people hospitalized due to breathing difficulties, while another fire in July at a shopping center in Zigong led to 16 deaths.
