Aftermath of the fire
8 killed, one injured in textile factory fire in southern China
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- Emergency crews brought the blaze under control within about 33 minutes of receiving the report.
- 63 workers and nearby residents were evacuated from the site and surrounding buildings.
- Authorities have launched technical and criminal investigations into the cause of the fire and whether safety regulations were followed.
Chinese authorities have completed Tuesday search and rescue operations at the site of a fire that broke out at a textile factory in Foshan, Guangdong province, with eight people confirmed dead and one injured, according to local authorities and state broadcaster CCTV.
The Shunde district emergency management department said rescue teams completed a comprehensive search of the site early Monday. The sole injured person remains in hospital and is in stable condition, authorities said.
Officials said emergency services received a report of the fire at 3:12 p.m. on Sunday at the Changxing Industrial Complex in Jun’an town, Shunde district, in Foshan.
Firefighters and emergency crews brought the blaze under control by 3:45 p.m., about 33 minutes after it was reported, and fully extinguished the visible flames by 4:10 p.m.
The fire broke out in a brick-and-concrete building used for denim fabric washing and other production activities. Flames affected an area of about 200 square meters, according to authorities.
Local officials said the rapid response prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings and industrial facilities within the complex. Rescue teams also evacuated 63 factory workers and people living in nearby buildings to safety.
Authorities in Guangdong have launched technical and criminal investigations to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigation will also examine whether the facility complied with workplace safety and fire prevention requirements.
Authorities said the on-site search has been completed and the injured person remains in stable condition as treatment continues.
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