Beijing, 29 April (H.S.): A tragic fire in northeast China claimed the lives of twenty-two people and left three others injured when it engulfed a restaurant in Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province, on Tuesday at 12:25 PM (04:25 GMT). The cause of the fire remains unknown. President Xi Jinping referred to the incident as a deeply sobering lesson and urged local authorities to treat the injured swiftly, investigate the cause immediately, and hold those responsible accountable, according to state news agency Xinhua. This tragic event follows previous incidents in China involving gas leaks, including separate explosions that resulted in fatalities and injuries.

In a different incident, three men died in a fire at an overcrowded house in Queens, New York, on Sunday, April 20. Eight others were hospitalized but reported as stable. The fire started on the first floor, quickly spreading throughout the house. According to Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) Commissioner Robert Tucker, investigators believe smoke detectors were absent during the fire, which occurred at around 1:30 AM. The overcrowded home featured makeshift partitions and blocked stairways filled with possessions and excessive extension cords. The deceased victims were aged 45, 52, and 67, according to police reports.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar