Deadly Blaze Claims 20 Lives at Chinese Nursing Home

A devastating fire swept through a nursing home in Hebei province, north China, claiming the lives of 20 elderly residents, local authorities reported Wednesday. The tragedy unfolded in Longhua County, Chengde City, where 39 seniors were housed in the facility at the time the fire ignited around 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters managed to douse the flames by approximately 11 p.m. Of the residents, 20 were pronounced dead, while 19 others were transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Authorities have detained the individual responsible for managing the nursing home as the investigation into the fire’s origin continues.

The Guoen Senior Home, a 300-bed facility, was home to 260 elderly residents when the blaze erupted. Public records indicate that 98 of these individuals were fully disabled, 84 were classified as semi-disabled, and 78 were able to care for themselves. The facility’s licensing records state its purpose as “providing accommodation, food, and daycare for the elderly and disabled.”

This incident follows a separate deadly fire in January 2024 in Xinyu city, Jiangxi province, where 39 people perished and nine were injured in a building complex. More than 50 officials faced disciplinary action after investigations revealed the fire stemmed from an illegally constructed cold storage unit in the basement, causing damages exceeding 43.52 million yuan (USD 5.9 million).