![]() “The descriptions of residents possibly sealed into their homes or compounds fit a broader pattern of how such lockdowns have been enforced in many parts of the country. The New York Times, for instance, in its article “Protest in Xinjiang against lockdown after fire kills ten”, regurgitating uncritically the claims of Chinese social media commentators suggesting the lockdown slowed efforts by firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The US and international media have sought to exploit the tragic incident to further its campaign for an end to China’s zero-COVID policy by blaming COVID restrictions. Blaming the deaths on COVID restrictions does no justice to the victims, but rather lets the ones who are truly responsible go free. This disaster is clearly rooted in the disregard for fire safety which is prevalent, not just in Urumqi but in many residential areas across China. In fact, there were residents who escaped the building from its entrance after the fire started. Accounts from at least three witnesses who lived in a building next door, including one volunteer assisting the rescue of residents, all verified that their residential compound was not under a strict lockdown and people could come downstairs. The road bollards had been there for years and were meant to limit access of vehicles, not pedestrians. ![]() These rumours can be refuted with video footage and accounts from neighbours. It was claimed that the building door was locked by health officials for quarantine purposes and that fire fighters wasted too much time removing fences propped up at the gate to seal the compound. The most widespread rumour on social media has been that quarantine and partial lockdown measures have prevented residents from escaping the fire scene. On China’s social media, various rumours have been spread by those hostile to the government’s zero-COVID-19 policy. One video did show staff in white hazmat suits trying to break the bollards near the entrance of the compound. There were also metal curb bollards standing in the way that took time to be removed. With multiple cars parked on the curbside, it was difficult for large vehicles like a fire truck to pass. The same press conference explained that the driveway into the compound was very narrow. The firefighters were attempting to spray water onto the building from a distance but the water seemed not able to reach the flames. Video footage taken by residents of nearby buildings showed that the fire truck parked at the entrance of the residential compound. How did it happen and how much did it contribute to the deaths? Questions were immediately raised about the almost three-hour delay between the arrival of the fire truck and when the fire was put down. Ten people, including a three year old child, died from smoke inhalation while nine others were hospitalized. According to the press conference held by the city government, the fire was finally under control at 10:20 p.m., two and a half hours later. ![]() The fire station in Urumqi was notified of the incident at 7:49 p.m. The blaze engulfed bedding and furniture in the room and spread up to the 17th floor, while the smoke went all the way to the 21st floor. The fire started from a power strip in the bedroom of an apartment on the 15th floor of a 21-floor building in a residential compound named Jixiangyuan. Mobile phone footage of the apartment fire ![]()
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