Thick black smoke billows from high-rise apartment complex during fire in Taiyuan, China

On November 8, 2026, in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, @Yīlùxiàngdōng,bèiduìdàhǎi shared a video showing thick black smoke billowing from the Howard Johnson International Apartment complex during a major fire. In the video, heavy gray smoke pours from the lower section of the high-rise building and spreads across the street as motorists and pedestrians pass through a nearby intersection. Several people on scooters navigate around traffic barriers beneath a red traffic light, while the towering building rises above the busy city street. According to reports, the fire broke out at approximately 4:59 p.m. and was extinguished by 7 p.m. the same day, with rescue operations concluding at 8:30 p.m. The building is a mixed-use complex containing residential apartments, hotels, businesses and educational facilities. Authorities confirmed that the fire resulted in 14 deaths, while 25 people remained hospitalized as of November 9, including nine in critical condition and four with serious injuries. A total of 60 people were evacuated or rescued. Authorities have also taken property management personnel and representatives of the property management company into custody or control as part of the investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.