In Beijing, during the early hours of Friday, a fire erupted in an apartment building in eastern China. Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze originated on the first floor of the building, where electric bikes had been stored. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Local authorities reported that a minimum of 15 individuals lost their lives, and 44 sustained injuries in the residential building fire in Nanjing, eastern China.

A total of 25 fire engines and 130 firefighters were dispatched to combat the blaze. The fire was successfully extinguished by 06:00 (22:00 GMT), concluding the search and rescue operation around 14:00.

Aerial photographs of the skyscraper, shared on Friday after the fire was brought under control, revealed several apartments along the height of the building with charred facades.

During a press conference, Mayor Chen Zhichang of Nanjing expressed his condolences and offered apologies to the families of the victims.

Instances like these are not rare in China, as the country often experiences fires and other fatal accidents attributed to the lax enforcement of safety standards. A series of recent deadly fires nationwide prompted President Xi Jinping to advocate for "deep reflection" last month, emphasizing the need for enhanced efforts to "address the frequent incidence of safety accidents."

In January, numerous casualties occurred following a fire in a store in the central city of Xinyu. The state news agency Xinhua reported that the blaze was triggered by the "unauthorized" use of fire by workers in the store's basement. This incident occurred just days after a nighttime fire at a school in Henan province, central China, which resulted in the tragic death of 13 schoolchildren as they slept in a dormitory.