At least eight people were killed and 15 injured in a fire at a market in northern China News
Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a busy market in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province.
A fire at a market in the northern Chinese province of Hebei has killed at least eight people and injured 15, according to state media.
The fire at Liguang Market in Hebei’s Zhangjiakou city broke out around noon local time (04:00 GMT) on Saturday and was mostly extinguished two hours later, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a government official in Qiaoxi County, where the market is located.
“The injured have been sent to hospital for treatment and are currently not in danger,” state broadcaster CCTV said after the fire.
CCTV said authorities were investigating the cause of the fire.
Videos posted on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo show huge dark clouds of smoke hovering over the market, along with large flames.
Liguang Vegetable Market opened in 2011 and sells a variety of items from fruits and seafood to electronics, said company data provider Qichacha.
Such traditional markets are often crowded with customers looking for prices lower than in supermarket chains.
Zhangjiakou hosted events during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
