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How a fire in remote China triggered nationwide covid protests

8 min read . Updated: 01 Dec 2022, 06:03 PM IST Austin Ramzy, The Wall Street Journal

People hold white sheets of paper in protest of coronavirus disease restrictions, after a vigil for the victims of a fire in Urumqi, as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease continue in Beijing, China (Photo: Reuters) — People hold white sheets of paper in protest of coronavirus disease restrictions, after a vigil for the victims of a fire in Urumqi, as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease continue in Beijing, China **(Photo: Reuters)**

Firefighting delays in the city of Urumqi, seen by many Chinese as related to strict pandemic controls, set off wide demonstrations against the country’s zero-Covid restrictions

As smoke crept through the 21-story apartment building in far western China, panicked messages filled the residents’ chat group. “On the 16th floor, we don’t have enough oxygen," a woman gasped in an audio message. “Soon our children won’t be OK."

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