Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire at a busy market in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province.
A fire at a market in the northern Chinese province of Hebei has killed at least eight people and injured 15, according to state media.
The fire at Liguang Market in Hebei’s Zhangjiakou city broke out around noon local time (0400 GMT) on Saturday and was mostly extinguished two hours later, according to Xinhua News Agency, citing a government official in Qiaoxi District where the market is located.
“The injured have been taken to hospital for treatment and are currently not in danger,” state broadcaster CCTV said after the fire.
CCTV said authorities were investigating the cause of the fire.
Videos posted on China’s Weibo microblogging site showed large plumes of dark smoke hanging over the market, along with huge flames.
Liguang Vegetable Market opened in 2011 and sells items ranging from fruit and seafood to electronics, said company data provider Qichacha.
Such traditional markets are often crowded with shoppers looking for lower prices than in supermarket chains.
Zhangjiakou hosted events during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
