Photos and videos from the city of 10 million show orange flames and a thick cloud of black smoke billowing from the structure. According to state television network CCTV, the building housed offices of one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies, China Telecom. In a statement on Weibo, China Telecom said the fire was put out at 4:30 p.m. of Friday. “To avoid serious risk, certain equipment in the building has been disabled,” another statement said. “At this time, fixed line communication and mobile internet service are accessible as normal, although voice functionality on some mobile phones may be affected. This is being addressed as a matter of urgency.” Accidental fires are not uncommon in China, where building codes are not enforced and construction is regularly done without permits, AFP reported. In July last year, a warehouse fire in the northeastern province of Jilin killed at least 15 people and injured at least 25, AFP reported, citing state media. In June of the same year, a fire at a martial arts school in Henan Province killed 18 people, mostly children.
