China restaurant blaze kills 11, injures 16
Beijing, May 27: A blaze that began in a restaurant stove in northeast China has killed 11 people, mostly diners and waiters, and injured 16, state media reported.
The fire broke out on Saturday evening, when most popular Chinese restaurants are packed with diners, and firefighters Could not extinguish it until over an hour later, the official Xinhua agency said.
The victims included diners and waiters at Baixinglou restaurant, in the city of Chaoyang in Liaoning province.
Fires at Chinese homes and businesses are relatively common, as safety standards and enforcement do not always keep pace with rapid economic growth.
Earlier this year at least 17 migrant workers died when fire raged through their sleeping quarters, and another blaze in southern China killed five children and their mother.
A recent expose by a journalist said 288 children were killed in a 1994 theatre fire in northwest China mainly because they were told to remain seated to allow officials to leave after the blaze broke out.
REUTERS>