6 dead and others trapped after fire breaks out in China shopping mall

Jul 17, 2024 - 15:32
6 dead and others trapped after fire breaks out in China shopping mall

CNN - Six people have died and others remain trapped after a fire broke out in a shopping mall in China on Wednesday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The fire broke out in a shopping center in Zigong, a city in China’s western province of Sichuan, at around 6 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET) on Wednesday, CCTV reported.

Dramatic images showed a huge column of black smoke billowing from the 14-story building. Several people are seen gathered on a balcony.

Nearly 300 emergency workers and dozens of vehicles were dispatched from the local fire department to the scene. The blaze was extinguished at 8.20 p.m. local time.

A total of 30 people have been rescued from the site. It is unclear how many people are trapped.