China: 5 Dead in Shop Fire in Hunan Province

A fire in a shop in Hengyang, Hunan province, resulted in the deaths of five people and injured one, local authorities reported. The blaze broke out on Saturday, adding to a grim period for China, which had just experienced its deadliest coal mine explosion since 2009.

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The cause of the fire at the store in Hengyang is under investigation.

The cause of the fire at the Hengyang store is currently under investigation, according to a statement released on the municipal government's WeChat account. This incident follows closely on the heels of a devastating gas explosion at the privately owned Liushengyu mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi province, on May 22. That explosion claimed the lives of at least 82 individuals.

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Authorities in Shanxi will immediately launch province-wide inspections targeting risks at coal mines, including gas, water hazards and roof conditions.

Officials in Shanxi province have initiated province-wide inspections targeting coal mine safety risks, including gas and water hazards, and roof conditions. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for stricter inspections and enhanced hazard controls nationwide. He also urged heightened vigilance during the current season, which is prone to heavy rains and floods. Meanwhile, torrential rain in Chongqing's Yongchuan district triggered flooding and landslides on May 23, resulting in one death and 17 people still missing as rescue efforts continue.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for stricter inspections and hazard controls countrywide, and urged heightened vigilance during the current season, when heavy rain and floods are more common.