Death Toll Rises to 119 in China Poultry Plant Fire

In the morning hours of June 3, a fire raged through a poultry plant in northeastern China, “killing at least 119 people.” The plant is located in Jilin province’s Mishazi township.

The fire appears to have been “sparked by three early morning explosions.” The province’s fire department “attributed the blasts to a leak of ammonia.” An unidentified plant worker said the fire “may have originated in a locker room at a time when about 350 workers were at the plant.” 

Survivors recounted their struggle to find and get through the “narrow exits.” They spoke of finding emergency exits blocked, the front gate locked, and of falling down and being trampled by others trying to escape.

In addition to the 119 killed, 54 were taken to hospitals for treatment.