In the afternoon of April 17, local time, a massive fire broke out near Qipan Mountain in the city of Shenyang in China’s northeast Liaoning Province.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media show how thick clouds of black smoke could be seen from a distance.
Thick clouds of smoke due to a blaze at Qipan Mountain in Shenyang today – pic.twitter.com/Jci65ruHwp
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) 17 april 2019
News sources on Weibo say the fire broke out earlier in the afternoon and was soon spreading due to strong winds in the area.
People’s Daily reports that over 1300 people are currently involved in a major operation to clear the area and fight the fire, including some 300 people from the fire department and 500 military staff.
The hashtag “Shenyang Qipan Mountain on Fire” (#沈阳棋盘山着火#) was one of the top trending topics on Chinese social media by Wednesday night.
Qipan Mountain is the biggest natural scenic zone in Shenyang, covering 190 square kilometers. According to China Daily, the zone includes plant and animal reserves, a water sports area, a ski area, a hunting area, and a villa area.
At time of writing, there are no sources confirming what caused the fire and if it is under control yet.
The nearby Shenyang Zoo, however, did confirm on Weibo that the fire had not spread to its area and that the necessary emergency measures were taken to protect the wellbeing of their animals.
Many netizens expressed their concerns over the safety of the animals earlier in the day. Photos of animals being burnt in the fire were refuted and labeled as ‘fake news.’
Over 1300 people are involved in a major operation to get the fire under control. #沈阳棋盘山着火 (Also see: https://t.co/MvSb1swewJ) pic.twitter.com/mx4C4rHRc9
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) 17 april 2019
By Manya Koetse
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