Hospital fire kills at least 29 in Beijing; 12 detained for questioning
A deadly fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Changfeng Hospital, one of the largest medical facilities in China's capital city, Beijing. The fire killed at least 29 people, mostly patients, and injured many others.
Anguished relatives of the victims rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news, but hospital officials were unable to provide any information about the incident.
Cause of the fire
A preliminary investigation revealed that sparks generated during renovation work ignited paint that was stored on-site. The director and deputy director of the hospital, as well as the head of the firm overseeing the renovation works, were among 12 people detained for questioning.
Rescue efforts and aftermath
Footage on social media showed patients jumping out of windows to escape the fire. Firefighters evacuated about 70 people and put out the flames within an hour of arriving. However, the hospital management faced criticism from relatives of the victims for their lack of communication and transparency. Reports suggest that most of the patients in the hospital were elderly and had undergone amputation surgeries, which made them less mobile.
At least 21 people died after a fire erupted in a Beijing hospital on Tuesday. Patients trapped inside were forced to balance on air-conditioning units, awaiting rescue, while at least one jumped to a roof below to escape the flames and smoke. https://t.co/0HbZOspOKi pic.twitter.com/lAkhREA1qO
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 18, 2023
Lack of media reporting
Chinese social media users criticised the lack of reporting on the incident by media outlets for most of Tuesday. Many eyewitness accounts were taken down from the microblogging site Weibo. One Weibo user expressed shock not only at the loss of lives but also at the "terrible silence of media outlets" that were "but spectators of the incident."
The fire in Changfeng Hospital is among the deadliest in recent years in China. It highlights the need for better safety regulations and transparency from hospital management during emergencies.
First published: 19 April 2023, 15:27 IST
