A fire broke out in a school dormitory in central China on Friday night, killing at least 13 students and injuring one.
According to Reuters, citing China Newsweek, a weekly magazine published by China News Agency, the fire broke out in the boys' dormitory at Yingcai School in Henan Province, killing 13 third-year students. Third graders in China are typically nine years old.
According to China Daily, the private school targets nursery school and elementary school students.
A massive fire broke out in a school dormitory in central China on Friday night, killing at least 13 students and injuring one. Authorities have launched an investigation. (Xinhua News Agency, Associated Press)
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According to state media, firefighters extinguished the fire about an hour later at around 11:40 p.m., and the principal was taken into custody.
Photos taken after the fire show charred windows on the third floor of the dormitory. All of the building's windows appear to be covered by guardrails.
Aerial photo of the school where 13 students died. (Xinhua News Agency, Associated Press)
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The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and an investigation is underway.
China's Ministry of Emergency Management called for inspections to avoid “hidden fire dangers in populated areas,” and a work team was dispatched to guide the rescue and follow-up operations, Xinhua News Agency reported.
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The school gives students a day off every two weeks, but this weekend was not a day off, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local residents. According to the publication, many of Eisai's students are from rural areas.
The tragedy comes after 26 people were killed and at least 38 injured at a mining company building in the northern Chinese city in December. In April, 29 people died in a hospital fire in Beijing.
A fire broke out in a school dormitory in the area on Friday night, killing at least 13 students and injuring one. (Google Maps)
