China announced a sweeping inspection of fire-safety standards in high-rise buildings nationwide on Saturday after a deadly fire in Hong Kong left at least 128 people dead.
Special attention will be paid to buildings undergoing external wall renovations and interior modifications, the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement.
"We must comprehensively strengthen fire safety management of high-rise buildings to effectively protect people's lives and property," the ministry said.
The State Council Work Safety Committee has issued a notice to local authorities launching the inspection, it said.
Chinese authorities remain sensitive to incidents affecting social stability, following a devastating blaze in China's Xinjiang region in 2022 that killed 10 people and triggered nationwide protests amid strict COVID-19 restrictions.
The Hong Kong fire poses a major test to Beijing's grip on the city, and Beijing is moving quickly to show that it attaches the utmost importance to the tragedy.
The announcement of the inspection campaign outlines four key inspection areas, including scrutiny of flammable materials used in external wall insulation systems, banned construction materials such as bamboo scaffolding, fire safety equipment, and emergency evacuation routes.
Local authorities must conduct thorough inspections and take "immediate corrective actions" when safety hazards are identified, according to the statement.
"Strict enforcement measures will be taken against serious violations, and those failing to eliminate major safety hazards will be held accountable," the emergency ministry said.
The Hong Kong fire, which started on Wednesday, rapidly engulfed seven of eight 32-storey blocks at an apartment complex undergoing renovation with bamboo scaffolding and foam insulation materials.
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Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
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Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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