Deadly Xinjiang fire sparks protests over lockdowns

Angry residents call for end to Covid-l9 curb, which they say may have delayed rescuers

- Aw Cheng Wei China Correspondent

BEIJING Protests erupted in Xinjiang on Friday night following a deadly fire at a housing complex that killed 10 and injured nine others on Thursday, as local officials sought to calm angry residents who have questioned whether pandemic lockdowns have delayed rescuers.

At one protest, hundreds gathered near an office building in Urumqi, the autonomous region's capital, about a 15-minute drive from where the fire took place, according to videos on Chinese social media circulated on Friday night.

Protesters chanted "end the lockdown" as they pumped their fists into the air.

The videos, which censors have quickly removed but were seen by The Sunday Times, also showed people walking down streets and shouting that they wanted to be released from pandemic measures, which have been in place for three months.

Officials at a press conference late on Friday night blamed the high number of cars parked in the compound for the delay in rescue, resulting in the fire being put out about three hours after it started at 7.50pm.