A massive restaurant fire in the Chinese province of Liaoning has left at least 22 dead and injured three. Reporting remains limited, as the cause of the fire and its exact location remain unknown.
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According to local media outlet Xinhua News Agency, the incident took place on April 29, 2025, at around 12:25 p.m. local time in the city of Liaoyang, located in east-central Liaoning province. The restaurant fire killed a total of 22 people and injured three others.
Photos shared by Xinhua show the aftermath of the fire, with the restaurant and the buildings next to it consumed by fire. At the same time, many first responders and firefighters were present in the area. It was reported by the outlet that a total of 22 firetrucks and 85 firefighters arrived at the scene. They were able to extinguish the flames and rescue the three people who were injured.
The restaurant's operator was arrested by local police, as per Xinhua. Moreover, investigations are currently being carried out by authorities, including staff of the Ministry of Emergency Management. President Xi Jinping called the incident a "deeply sobering lesson." Additionally, Xi urged local governments to treat the injured and identify those responsible, as per Reuters.
"We should resolutely prevent and curb big safety incidents, effectively ensuring the safety of people's lives and property as well as overall social stability," Xi added, according to SCMP.
Limited Information And Similar Incidents
Currently, there is no information regarding the cause of the fire or the identities of the deceased. According to the Associated Press, limited access to information involving similar incidents in China is "usual."
Moreover, industrial accidents in China stemming from a lack of training, individuals not following safety protocols, storage of illegal chemicals, and even open flame cooking in restaurants often cause fires similar to the one in Liaoyang.
According to Reuters, a nursing home apartment fire in the province of Hebei killed 20 in early April. In March, two people died and 26 were injured following an explosion at a Hebei restaurant. In September 2024, an explosion at a Shenzhen province high-rise building killed one person.
