Authorities in China said that a fire at a Chinese hospital has resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people.
On Tuesday evening, a fire broke out at a Changfeng Hospital in Beijing in an wing that contained critically ill patients.
Li Zongrong said that 13 men and 16 woman were killed by the fire, including 26 patients, 1 family member, an employee and a caretaker.
The youngest victim was aged 40 and the oldest 88.
Those trapped in the fire were forced to escape by climbing down bedsheets that had been tied together.
Officials said that 39 people were being treated for injuries. Three of those are in critical condition.
Authorities reported that 142 people had been evacuated from the building during the fire. 79 of them were moved to hospitals nearby and another 78 to a non-affected area on site.
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Officials are investigating the cause of the fire, but they believe that it was caused by welding sparks during work in the hospital’s patient wing.
Twelve people, including the head of the hospital and her deputy as well as the leader of the construction team, have been arrested.
The city has also launched an investigation on fire safety in high-rise buildings and care homes.
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