Night Fire In Southern China Claims 12 Lives In Residential Building

At least 12 people have been confirmed dead after a fire tore through a residential building in Shantou, Guangdong Province, southern China, on Tuesday night, according to state media reports on Wednesday.

The inferno broke out around 9:20 p.m. in the four-storey structure and was brought under control shortly after 10:00 p.m., the local fire department disclosed in a statement.

Officials identified the affected property as a self-constructed four-storey reinforced concrete building, adding that the blaze spread across approximately 150 square metres of space.

Authorities said investigations into the cause of the fire, as well as post-incident response efforts, are currently ongoing.

Earlier reports had placed the death toll at eight, with four others rushed to the hospital for treatment. However, state broadcaster Xinhua later confirmed that the number of fatalities had risen to 12.

The tragedy comes barely weeks after a massive fire swept through several high-rise residential towers in neighbouring Hong Kong, killing 160 people, a disaster that prompted Chinese authorities to launch a nationwide crackdown on fire safety violations in high-rise buildings.