Fire in Spa Hotel Northeastern China Kills 19 People

Recently in North-Eastern China, a fire broke out in the spa hotel that killed almost 19 people.  This fire tore through a hot springs hotel in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin that lead to killing 19 people and causing 23 others to be taken to the hospital.

According to the investigations, the fire at the four-story Bailong Hot Springs Leisure Hotel, a spa resort visited mainly by domestic tourists, broke out just after 4:30 a.m. It’s believed to have started in a kitchen on the second floor. The flames of the fire swept through an area of about 400 square meters before being extinguished after three hours, as more than 30 fire engines and 100 firefighters who rushed to the scene.  Firemen successfully rescue around 20 people who were trapped in the hotel and another 80 were evacuated from the building.

On another side, the casualties treated in hospital were in the 40 to 70 age range. The actual number of the people who are killed were not immediately available. Earlier reports stated the number to be 18 that has now reached 19 after a survivor died while in hospital. Local authorities said a legal representative of the hotel was in criminal custody for the sake of suspected fire safety negligence.

It is known that China has a pretty good record when it comes to the safety of the buildings and malls. China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said it would launch a nationwide fire safety inspections in buildings along with hotels, sauna, hospitals, schools and shopping malls.

Heartfelt condolences for the deaths, people, and families involved.