TEN people were killed and nine injured in a fire in a residential building in China’s north-western Xinjiang region, state media reported today.

The blaze broke out in a high-rise building last night, state news agency Xinhua said, at about 7.50pm (1150 GMT). 

“Ten people died despite emergency treatment,” Xinhua reported. 

“The injuries sustained by nine others are not life-threatening,” it added, saying an investigation into the fire had begun.

Deadly fires are common in China, due to weak safety standards and corruption among officials tasked with enforcing them.

This week, 38 people were killed and two were injured in a fire at a factory in central China’s Anyang city.

Authorities blamed “electric welding in which workers violated safety measures”. – AFP, November 25, 2022.