BEIJING — A devastating fire at a restaurant in northern China’s Liaoning province has left at least 22 people dead and three others injured, Chinese authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The blaze broke out shortly after noon in the city of Liaoyang and rapidly consumed a multi-story building housing the eatery.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but footage released from the scene showed towering flames erupting from the building’s windows and doors as thick smoke billowed into the air. Emergency personnel were seen battling the inferno as onlookers gathered nearby, some reportedly searching for missing loved ones.
The structure, described by officials as a two- to three-story building, was completely engulfed when firefighters arrived. Local authorities said a full investigation is underway, though they have not released the name of the restaurant or the identities of the victims.
Industrial and structural fires remain a recurring hazard in China, often attributed to poor enforcement of safety regulations, undertrained personnel, and aging infrastructure. Experts note that pressure to cut costs or speed operations can lead to corners being cut, including the disabling of fire prevention systems or the storage of flammable materials in unregulated conditions.
While it is not yet confirmed where the fire began in the Liaoyang restaurant, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that it may have started in the kitchen—where traditional Chinese cooking techniques, including the use of large open flames beneath iron woks, can pose fire risks. Additionally, the widespread popularity of dishes such as “hot pot,” which involve simmering food at diners’ tables over open burners, has led to accidents in the past.
Liaoyang, located in China’s northeastern rust belt, is part of a once-thriving industrial corridor that has experienced significant economic decline and population outflow in recent decades. Local reports suggest that restaurants and small businesses in the area often operate in aging buildings with limited access to updated fire safety equipment or compliance inspections.
China has seen numerous deadly accidents linked to lax safety enforcement in recent years, from coal mine explosions to chemical plant blasts and factory fires. In many of these incidents, subsequent investigations uncovered a pattern of ignored warnings, falsified safety reports, and inadequate emergency exits—all compounded by local corruption or bureaucratic oversight failures.
In response to this latest tragedy, officials from the Liaoyang municipal government said they would be conducting sweeping inspections of similar establishments in the city. The Ministry of Emergency Management is also expected to send investigators to Liaoning province to coordinate with local authorities.
As the charred remains of the restaurant smoldered late into the afternoon, grief and anger mounted in the city. Family members of victims were seen gathering outside local hospitals and emergency centers, seeking information about loved ones. The names of the deceased have not yet been released pending formal identification.
State media called for renewed attention to public safety and building code enforcement in the aftermath of the disaster. Meanwhile, the Chinese public took to social media to express outrage and sorrow, with many users demanding accountability from business owners and local officials.
