What happened to the Slaughterhouse/meat processing plant in Mishazi in 2013?

On 3 June 2013 a fire broke out in a slaughterhouse/meat processing plant in Mishazi containing more than 300 workers. It would tragically kill 119 staff who were trapped due to there only being one available exit.

The factory was just three years old and should have contained sufficient passive protection and egress to allow occupants safe passage in a timely manner.

How did the Slaughterhouse/meat processing plant fire start?

The source of ignition is unknown but could have been due to electrical issues and a chemical leak.

CCTV footage showed dark smoke billowing from the prefabricated cement structures as firefighters battled to extinguish the flames.

It took the services of around 500 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Some survivors who acted early by climbing out of windows were taken to hospital. Some described their efforts of exhaustion as they struggled through smoke and flames to reach doors that turned out to be locked or blocked. Many people attempting to escape were crushed as the intense heat and flames spread.

What can the industry learn from the Slaughterhouse/meat processing plant fire?

Many of China's factories were built in recent decades to drive the country's rapid economic growth; accidents are often blamed on relaxed enforcement of safety rules and poor worker training.

The doors to the factory were locked preventing firefighter access and occupancy egress.

The provincial government said more than 500 firefighters and at least 270 doctors and nurses were at the scene. As a  precaution 300 nearby homes were evacuated.