China: 15 dead and dozens injured in a fire in Nanjing

Local authorities said that 15 people were killed and more than 40 others were injured after a fire broke out in a residential building in eastern China.

Footage shared on the Social Medal showed flames and plumes of black smoke engulfing several floors of a skyscraper in the city of Nanjing.

Officials indicated that the fire started on the first floor of the building, where electric bicycles were stored.

But the specific cause of the fire remained under investigation.

The building is located in the Yuhuatai district of Nanjing, a city with a population of more than eight million located about 162 miles (260 kilometers) northwest of Shanghai.

Emergency service crews were first alerted to the fire at 04:40 local time (20:40 GMT) on Friday, officials said on Saturday morning.

25 fire engines and 130 firefighters were sent to deal with the fire. By 06:00 (22:00 GMT), the fire was extinguished, and the search and rescue operation ended around 14:00.

Officials said that of the 44 injured people who were taken to hospital for treatment, one was in critical condition and the other was in serious condition.

At a press conference, Nanjing Mayor Chen Zhichang offered his condolences and apologies to the families of the victims.

Aerial photos of the skyscraper released on Friday after the fire was extinguished showed some apartments along the building with black facades.

Fires and other fatal accidents in China often occur due to lax enforcement of safety standards.

The recent spate of deadly fires across the country prompted President Xi Jinping to call last month for “deep thinking” and greater efforts to “reduce the recurrence of safety incidents.”