Eight Killed, One Injured in Textile Factory Fire in Southern China

Eight people have been killed and another injured after a fire broke out at a textile factory in Foshan, in southern China’s Guangdong province.

The fire occurred at about 3:12 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, in a two-storey building located inside an industrial park in Foshan’s Shunde district, according to Chinese state media and local authorities.

The affected building was used for production activities, including denim fabric washing. State television reported that the blaze was brought under control in about an hour and did not spread to other parts of the industrial park.

The injured person was taken to hospital for treatment, while authorities launched search-and-rescue operations at the scene. Chinese state media initially reported that rescue efforts were continuing as officials worked to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

By Monday, local fire authorities said the flames had been extinguished, with personnel remaining at the site to handle the aftermath. Chinese authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

Footage verified by Reuters showed thick smoke rising from the affected building, while a taller building nearby appeared not to have been damaged.

The incident has again drawn attention to safety risks in industrial facilities, although authorities have not yet released a finding on what caused the Foshan fire.