In Urumqi, Xinjiang, 10 people were killed in a fire suspected of being improperly sealed off.

A Uighur man in exile said that five of his relatives died in the fire, and he was shocked and saddened by the news.

(Associated Press)

[Central News Agency] A fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang, suspected of being improperly sealed off, claimed 10 lives and detonated anti-zeroing demonstrations that spread to many places.

Agence France-Presse interviewed a Uyghur man in exile. Five of his relatives died in the fire. He was shocked and saddened by the news.

Based on previous reports, a fire broke out in the Jixiangyuan Community in Tianshan District, Urumqi City on the evening of the 24th, killing 10 people and injuring 9 people. Due to the suspected long-term blockade and control measures hindering the rescue, the official held a press conference to shirk responsibility and deleted articles on the Internet. Fueling, aroused strong indignation among netizens.

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On the evening of the 25th, a large number of angry Urumqi citizens broke through the blockade of the community and went to the city government to demand that the blockade be lifted immediately.

The incident also ignited solidarity everywhere, including at least large-scale protests in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Guangzhou and other cities.

Maimaiti, 27, who lives in exile in Switzerland, was shocked when he learned through a friend that his 48-year-old aunt died in the crematorium with her four children aged 4 to 13.

"My hands and feet are shaking, I feel dizzy, nauseous. I really don't understand it," Memety told AFP from his home in Zurich.

As early as May 2017, he lost contact with his aunt.

Xinjiang was under massive repression at the time, and an estimated million Uyghurs were arbitrarily detained, some simply because of contact with relatives abroad.

"My aunt is just an ordinary housewife who has dedicated her life to taking care of and teaching the children well," McMattie said tearfully.

"After 5 years without hearing from my loved ones, I really can't imagine hearing from my loved ones in this way."

Mai Maiti also recognized his cousin's message in a screenshot that went viral on the Internet.

After the fire, his cousin begged neighbors in community groups to save his mother and siblings.

His cousin posted a message in the group asking for help, saying: "I can't contact the people who live in No. 1901. I don't know how they are. They can't open the door. Can you break in? There are children inside." At the time of the incident, The author is not in Urumqi.

Memeti believes that his Uighur relatives were not rescued in time because they are Uighurs.

"I will never trust the Chinese government. Whenever Uyghurs protest, the government will completely silence them."

He also predicted pessimistically: "I think the demonstrators will all be arrested and (Uyghurs) will be subject to stricter control."