Survivors recount escape from blaze

A nursing worker at Beijing Changfeng Hospital was having a lunch break when the deadly fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon.

"I was on my lunch break at about 12:30 pm when I heard there was a fire. I opened the door and saw smoke billowing into the corridor," she said.

She escaped through a corridor on the seventh floor that connects the east and west buildings, and went down the stairs in the west building.

"When the firefighters arrived, the two patients I was looking after were rescued from the fire. Later, one patient was sent to Beijing Fengtai You'anmen Hospital. I don't know where the other is and I have no way to reach her," she added.

The fire at the private hospital caused the deaths of 29 people — 26 patients, one family member and two medical workers. Authorities have detained 12 people and planned a citywide safety inspection to eliminate fire risks.

Yang Kang, a 63-year-old patient in Changfeng Hospital, said he was sitting in his ward with another patient and his wife when he heard screams that there was a fire, news outlet ThePaper.cn reported.

"In the beginning, nobody realized the seriousness of the problem. Some people even wandered in the corridor. Then the fire was getting bigger and I heard medical workers shouting," said Yang.

When he saw smoke spreading from downstairs, he knew it was a big deal.

Yang had received firefighting training in college, so he quickly wet a towel, covered his nose and mouth with it, and closed the door.

"Another patient's wife was so scared that she smashed the door. As a result, smoke poured into the room," Yang added.

He told them to be calm and asked them to cover their mouths and noses with wet towels. They waited for about 40 minutes until firefighters arrived.

The couple was rescued first. Then about four to five firefighters carried Yang down the building in a wheelchair where he was taken to an ambulance and given oxygen.

"Right now, I am receiving good treatment," Yang added.