A person injured in a fire accident at a poultry slaughterhouse in Dehui is wheeled to a hospital in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, June 3, 2013. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
A fire that killed 120 people at a poultry factory in northeast China's Jilin Province on Monday has raised concerns over China's often-criticized lax work safety conditions.
The fire broke out around 6:06 a.m. at a poultry processing workshop owned by the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Company in Mishazi Township in the city of Dehui, located about 100 km northeast of the provincial capital of Changchun.
Health authorities said 60 people have been hospitalized, including eight people who are in life-threatening condition.
President Xi Jinping, who is currently on a visit to Costa Rica, has demanded all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties.
Xi has urged authorities to ascertain the cause of the fire and hold those responsible accountable.
Premier Li Keqiang in a separate instruction asked local authorities to prioritize life-saving efforts.
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