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In China, a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building, killing 10 people.

However, as suspicions emerged that fire suppression was delayed due to structures installed for corona containment, China's high-intensity quarantine policy was put on the cutting board.



Correspondent Jung Young-tae from Beijing.



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On the evening of the day before yesterday (24th), a fire broke out on the 15th floor of a high-rise apartment building in Urumqi, China, and poisonous gas spread to the 21st floor.



The fire authorities said they arrived on the scene in 5 minutes after the alarm was issued, but it took nearly 3 hours to extinguish the fire and 10 residents died.



The fire engine arrived, but it took time to clear the steel structures on the road, and a video was released that did not reach the fire place because of spraying fire water from a distance.



[The water doesn't reach it, don't you know it doesn't reach it?]



When there was suspicion that fire suppression was delayed due to various installations for containment-type quarantine policies, the city authorities made an emergency clarification.



[Hamiti Maimatiming/Urumqi Tensan-gu Manager: (Outside) there was no locking the door by tying it with a wire.

The doors of all the houses in the apartment are not locked.]



It was explained that the fire engine was late to enter because there were many cars parked on the narrow road, but the controversy grew because of comments that seemed to blame the victims.



[Lee Won-sheng/Urumqi Fire and Rescue Chief: Some residents are not familiar with the location of the second safe exit to the rooftop because their ability to protect and rescue themselves is weak.]



Residents of Urumqi, who had been under high-intensity quarantine measures for three months, confronted the police demanding that the blockade be lifted in various places as dissatisfaction exploded.



[Urumqi residents: The police are not anyone's family.

Doesn't your heart hurt?

Do you know how many people died tonight?]



Urumqi is a sensitive area for ethnic minorities, and it is known that there are a large number of Uyghurs among the victims of the fire, making the authorities more nervous.



(Video editing: Jo Moo-hwan, video source: Douyin Weibo)