Chengde Nursing Home Fire Claims 20 Lives, Injures 19

Authorities detain facility manager as investigations begin into the deadly blaze that highlights ongoing fire safety challenges in elderly care facilities across China.

• A fire broke out at a nursing home in Chengde’s Longhua county, Hebei province, on Tuesday, April 9, 2025, at approximately 9pm, killing 20 people and injuring 19 others.
• The injured have been hospitalized for treatment and observation, while local and provincial authorities have deployed teams to support victims' families and manage post-incident efforts.
• The nursing home administrator has been detained by Hebei police as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire.
• China’s Emergency Management Ministry has reiterated the need for strict adherence to updated fire safety regulations introduced in July 2023 to prevent such tragedies.
• This incident underscores recurring fire safety lapses in public facilities, particularly those serving vulnerable populations, amidst broader concerns about regulatory enforcement.

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