XINHUA – Operations against rules and regulations caused a fire that has killed 38 people at a plant in central China’s Henan Province, local authorities said yesterday.
The fire broke out at 4.22pm on Monday at the plant of a commerce and trade company in Wenfeng District of Anyang City. The company mainly manufactures clothes.
It was initially determined that sparks during welding operations had caused the fire, igniting cotton fabric in the factory, said the municipal emergency management department.
Two people who sustained minor injuries have been sent to hospital.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has been directing the rescue efforts. Minister of Emergency Management Wang Xiangxi led a work team to the fire scene.
Local authorities sent a total of 240 people and 63 vehicles to join the rescue effort and the fire was put out by midnight.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to rescue and treat the injured.