Beijing launches investigation and evacuation order after deadly fire

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A brutal fire, which broke out on Saturday night in a housing block in the Chinese’s capital’s southern district of Daxing, has claimed 19 lives and left many more homeless.

Beijing authorities launched an investigation and evacuate migrant workers after the suburb fire.

Local authorities said during a press conference on Monday that 18 people had been taken into custody in connection with the fire, including one who was the original tenant of the building, six who managed the property and 11 facility maintenance personnel who did not get licenses.

Witnesses said foam boards in the dilapidated basement could have been the cause of the fire but it is still under investigation.

Jufuyuan is the name of the blazing apartment block, which is a typical cheap rental apartment in Xihongmen, a township in the southern suburb of Beijing, known for its labor-intensive textile industry.

It had housed more than 400 migrants working in nearby factories, including kids who went to neighboring kindergartens and a primary school.

Built illegally as a three-story complex, Jufuyuan had renovated the units on its lower floor, shops and restaurants. Leaving 305 residential units scattered on the second and third floors, but unfortunately with a lack of fire alarms.

Migrants are forced to move. /CGTN Photo

The fire has accelerated the demolition of Xihongmen, an industrial base inhibited mostly by migrants. Some of them told CGTN that they did not possess licenses to run their businesses and they knew the fate of the area. However, they were still taken by surprise as authorities ordered a full evacuation within just a few days.

Houses demolished after the fire. /CGTN Photo

A lot of the factories had just been relocated to Xihongmen recently, after the municipal government’s campaign to phase out non-capital functions such as manufacturing, logistics and wholesale markets had pushed them further away from the center of Beijing. These migrants said they now have nowhere to go but head for home.

According to authorities, a 40-day citywide safety check is now underway.

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