Dozens killed in internet cafe fire in south-eastern China

At least 39 people have died and nine others were injured after a fire broke out in a commercial building in south-eastern China.

Officials in the Yushui district of Jiangxi province said the blaze broke out in the basement of a shopping area in the afternoon. Rescue workers, firefighters, police and local government officials were deployed to the scene.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement about the blaze, noting that it was yet another safety tragedy.

He called on the government and Communist Party to “resolutely curb the frequent occurrence of various safety accidents, and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property and overall social stability”.

The statement included orders for the State Council’s Work Safety Committee to close any gaps in safety measures.

The local government said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Over the weekend, a fire in central Henan province broke out in a boarding school dormitory and killed 13 children.