BEIJING: At least eight people have died and others remain trapped after a massive fire broke out in a shopping mall in Zigong, China, on Wednesday, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The blaze, which erupted around 6 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET), has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the incident and the dramatic images of thick black smoke billowing from the 14-story building.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that nearly 300 emergency workers and dozens of fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. The fire was successfully extinguished at 8:20 p.m. local time, but not before causing extensive damage and loss of life. So far, 30 people have been rescued from the site, but the exact number of those still trapped remains unclear.
Eyewitness footage and images broadcast by CCTV and shared on social media show a massive column of black smoke rising from the shopping center. Some images showed people gathered on a balcony, seemingly trapped by the flames below.
“Six people have been killed,” state broadcaster CCTV initially reported, later updating the death toll to eight. The broadcaster emphasized that search and rescue operations are ongoing, and firefighters are working tirelessly to locate and rescue any remaining people trapped inside the building.
Zigong’s emergency services department received the first reports of the fire at 6:11 p.m. local time and immediately deployed firefighters to tackle the blaze. Fire engines and ambulances were seen surrounding the area as emergency workers fought to control the inferno and rescue those inside.
Authorities have urged the public to refrain from spreading or believing rumors about the fire, stressing the importance of relying on official updates and information.
Zigong, located approximately 1,900 kilometers from Beijing, is home to nearly 2.5 million people.
