38 killed, 2 missing after plant fire in China’s Henan

(PHOTO / CCTV NEWS APP)

ZHENGZHOU —A fire disaster on Monday in Henan province has left 38 dead, according to local authorities. 

The fire started at 4:22 pm in a factory in Anyang and also injured another two, they said. Firefighters managed to put it out at around 11pm.

Local police have identified and controlled the suspect(s), they shared, without giving details.

An initial investigation showed that operations against rules and regulations caused the fire, local authorities said Tuesday

An initial investigation showed that operations against rules and regulations caused the fire, local authorities said Tuesday.

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The company mainly manufactures clothes. It was initially determined that sparks during welding operations caused the fire, igniting cotton fabric in the factory, said the municipal emergency management department.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, a team led by a leading official of the ministry's fire service bureau had headed to Anyang on Monday to guide the rescue operation.

A total of 63 fire trucks and 240 firefighters from local fire service departments participated in the rescue mission, it noted.

Wang Xiangxi, minister of emergency management, demanded to figure out the causes to the accident as soon as possible and screen for safety hazards across the country to prevent the happening of major accidents.

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