CHENGDU: At least two dozen people have been hospitalized after a fire broke out Thursday in a hospital in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, said Beijing-based Xinhua News.
According to Anadolu Agency, of those hospitalized from smoke inhalation, eight are in life-threatening or critical condition, while 17 have minor injuries. The smoke spread to the second floor of a nearby hotel, causing additional injuries, as reported by the local emergency management bureau.
The district fire department confirmed that firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the stairwell fire. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
This incident follows a tragic blaze in January in the southeastern province of Jiangxi, where at least 39 people were killed and nine injured.