At least eight people were killed and another person injured after a fire broke out at a textile factory in southern China, state-run news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.
The incident occurred at around 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Sunday in Foshan, a major industrial city in Guangdong province.
According to the report, the fire broke out at the textile facility, prompting emergency services and rescue personnel to respond to the scene. Authorities confirmed the fatalities and said one person was injured in the incident.
Rescue operations were underway as authorities worked to secure the affected area and respond to the aftermath of the fire.
Further details about the circumstances surrounding the blaze were not immediately available. Authorities had not yet disclosed what caused the fire, the identities of those killed or the extent of the damage to the factory.
Industrial fires can present significant risks because manufacturing facilities often contain combustible materials, machinery and other equipment that can contribute to the rapid spread of flames. However, officials had not indicated whether any specific materials or equipment were involved in Sunday's incident.
The injured person was receiving attention following the incident, although authorities had not immediately provided further information about their condition.
Foshan is one of Guangdong's major manufacturing centres and has a large concentration of industrial and textile-related businesses. The incident is expected to prompt further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire and the safety conditions at the facility.
Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the blaze and determine whether any safety violations or other factors contributed to the deaths.
The latest incident adds to concerns over workplace safety in industrial facilities, where effective fire prevention measures, emergency exits, alarms and evacuation procedures can be critical in limiting casualties.
As rescue and emergency operations continued, officials were expected to provide additional information on the incident, including the cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the loss of lives.
For now, authorities have confirmed that at least eight people died and one person was injured in the fire at the textile factory in Foshan.
