Tragedy struck a kindergarten and elementary school in central China as a fire broke out in the dormitory, claiming the lives of 13 individuals. The incident, which occurred on Friday night, also left one person hospitalized with injuries. The school’s head was taken into custody, and details about the victims, including whether any were children, were not immediately disclosed.
According to a teacher from the school, all the victims were from the same third-grade class. The news quickly spread online, with 190 million views on Weibo, China’s popular social media platform, making it the second-most searched topic. Many expressed their condolences and called for a transparent investigation into the disaster.
Images of the dormitory showed windows with metal grates, some blackened by smoke. The school, known as Dushu Town Yingcai School, is privately owned and has received praise from local authorities. The tragic incident has raised concerns about safety measures in educational institutions.
The kindergarten charges $25 a month for tuition, while the average annual disposable income of residents in the area is $3,372. The school’s recent investment in construction and beautification raises questions about the safety standards in place.
Li You and Zixu Wang contributed research.
2024-01-20 06:35:47
Source from www.nytimes.com