On March 17, China’s State Fire and Rescue Administration released initial findings of the investigation into a fire in Shantou city, Guangdong province, which occurred on December 9, 2025, in a five-story unauthorized building. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze in under an hour, 12 people died from smoke inhalation.
The investigation revealed that careless use of mosquito coils was the fire's cause. On the building's first floor was a hardware store storing flammable materials—polyurethane foam, aerosol paints, gas cylinders, and lithium batteries—in quantities exceeding allowed limits.
Firefighting efforts were further hindered by the building's design: staircases lacked ventilation shafts, creating "smoke chimneys," while cluttered passageways complicated evacuation and fire suppression.
These factors highlight the critical importance of strict fire safety regulations and proper hazardous material storage in commercial premises to prevent such deadly incidents.
Ultimately, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous safety enforcement to protect lives and avoid similar disasters in the future.