ALBAWABA - Chinese state media reported that 11 people have been killed and 51 have been hospitalized after a fire tore through a building in northern China's Shanxi province on Thursday.
A four-storey building belonging to the Yongju Coal Company in Lishi District, Luliang City, Shanxi Province, caught massive fire at around 6:50 am according to local authorities.
State broadcaster CCTV said: "Eleven people have been confirmed dead and the specific number of casualties is still being counted. A total of 63 people have been evacuated so far, 51 of whom were sent to the Luliang First People's Hospital for treatment".
Rescue and fire crews were immediately dispatched to the scene. "Rescue work is still in progress and the cause of the fire is under investigation," CCTV reported.
Chinese social media users took to Weibo to share footage showing bright flames and thick black smoke billowing out of the building, while dozens of people stood in the parking lot watching.
In the footage, emergency responders can be seen running to put on protective gear outside a firetruck parked near the building's door.
China is no stranger when it comes to industrial fires, In April, a hospital fire in Beijing killed 29 people and forced desperate survivors to jump out of windows to escape.
In June, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwestern China left 31 dead and prompted official pledges of a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.
