A fire at a food market in northern China on Saturday killed at least eight people and injured 15 others, according to state media. The blaze erupted at the Liguang market in the city of Zhangjiakou around midday and was mostly extinguished by 2:00 p.m. (0600 GMT), Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a government official from Qiaoxi District, where the market is located.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, the report said. Traditional markets like Liguang are often densely packed with shoppers drawn to lower prices compared to supermarket chains. Fire hazards in such markets include gas bottles, charcoal for roasting meat, discarded cigarettes, and aging infrastructure, such as underground gas lines, which have previously been blamed for fires and explosions.
Zhangjiakou, situated in Hebei province bordering Beijing, gained international attention as a host city for events during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
