China school dormitory blaze claims 13 lives in Henan province

A school dormitory fire in central China's Henan province has claimed the lives of thirteen people, according to the official Xinhua news agency. 

The tragedy unfolded at Yingcai School in Yanshanpu village, with the fire department receiving the report at 11pm local time on Friday.

Swift action by rescuers managed to extinguish the flames by 11:38pm, but the toll was already grim. Thirteen individuals lost their lives, and one person sustained injuries. The injured survivor is currently in stable condition and is receiving treatment at the hospital, as reported by Xinhua.

Yanshanpu village, situated on the outskirts of Nanyang, a city with nearly 10 million residents, now grapples with the aftermath of this heart-wrenching incident. Little public information is available about the boarding school, but earlier social media videos depicted young children, including kindergarteners, wearing smocks adorned with the school's logo. Older students were shown engaging in the art of calligraphy.

Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the fire, and Xinhua notes that at least one person linked to the school has been detained in connection with the incident. The report does not specify how many of the deceased were children.

Chinese social media has erupted with outrage as users express grief and call for accountability. The tragic incident has sparked widespread demand for swift action against any identified safety lapses.