Eleven people were killed, and 51 were hospitalized when a fire ripped through a building in northern China's Shanxi province on Thursday.
The fire broke out at roughly 6:50 a.m. (2250 GMT on Wednesday) at a four-story structure owned by the Yongju coal firm in Lishi District, Luliang City, Shanxi Province, according to state media citing local authorities.
"Eleven people have been confirmed dead, and the specific number of casualties is still being counted," state broadcaster CCTV stated.
"A total of 63 people have been evacuated so far, 51 of whom were sent to the Luliang First People's Hospital for treatment", according to the statement.
Did you read this?
"Rescue work is still in progress and the cause of the fire is under investigation," the statement said.
Video footage released by Weibo showed blazing flames and heavy black smoke pouring from the structure as scores of people stood in the parking lot watching.
The video's building matched photographs of the company's headquarters on its website.
In the video, emergency responders can be seen running to put on protective gear outside a firetruck parked near the building's door.
Due to inadequate safety standards and poor enforcement, industrial accidents are widespread in China. Eleven people were killed in July when the ceiling of a school gym in the country's northeast collapsed.
A month earlier, 31 people were killed in an explosion at a BBQ restaurant in northeastern China, prompting official promises of a statewide push to promote worker safety.
A hospital fire in Beijing killed 29 people in April, forcing frantic survivors to jump out windows to escape.
