China in Chaos! Historic Heatwave Sparks Exploding Factories, Melting Roads, Burning Cars

Recently, multiple auto parts factories in China have been struck by fires. On the morning of July 17, around 10 a.m., a fire broke out at an auto parts factory in Dayang, Jiangsu Province. The entire building was engulfed in flames, and thick smoke rose dozens of meters into the air. A witness, Mr. Li, recalled, There was a loud bang, and suddenly, a black pillar of smoke shot up from the seven-story building. The factory began to collapse in the fire. I was shaking, holding my phone. He added, Flame shot out of the windows, and glass shards fell to the ground. More than 20 fire trucks arrived. Another witness, Ms. Wang, who was fixing electric bikes across the street, said with lingering fear, The flames were as high as five stories, and the thick smoke blocked out the sun. The air was filled with the pungent smell of burning plastic. The factory was filled with highly flammable plastic products, and once the fire started, it was impossible to control. The black smoke spread across the sky like a storm cloud, terrifying nearby residents. A video taken at noon on July 17 shows the entire building engulfed in orange-red flames. Firefighters, wielding hoses, rushed to douse the flames, but the fire was so intense that the water evaporated as soon as it hit the exterior wall. The suffocating atmosphere was palpable, even through the screen. Before 10 p.m., the flames were finally extinguished after burning for a full 12 hours. The fire completely destroyed the factory building of Dangyang Yalida Plastic, leaving only the steel frame standing. Even the awning of the neighboring supermarket was melted by the intense heat, a stark reminder of the fire's ferocity. Industry insiders commented, When a factory like this catches fire, it's like igniting a gasoline storage. According to official reports, the fire resulted in one death and one person missing, but the public's concerns remain unresolved. Some netizens have raised doubts, asking, The seven-story building was reduced to a frame. Was no one trapped inside? The fire broke out during working hours. Did all the workers manage to escape? Local resident Mr. Liu sighed, saying, Now that the factory is destroyed and all the equipment is ruined, these workers may not have jobs next month. Even more heartbreaking, several cars were parked in the factory area, unable to be driven away in time, and all were burned to their shells. The thick smoke turned the nearby sky into night. Residents around the area reported that the air was filled with the pungent smell of burning plastic, choking their throats, and many dared not open their windows. Some even worried that the burning plastic could release toxic gases, potentially affecting their health. Indeed, burning plastic releases harmful substances, such as dioxins, which are highly toxic. They could cause reproductive and developmental issues, damage the immune system, disrupt hormones, and even lead to cancer. Public records show that Dangyang Yelida Plastic, established in 2001, is a well-established local auto parts company. Its business scope includes manufacturing and selling plastic parts, automotive lights, and accessories. What's even more concerning is that the Anle Industrial Park, where Yelida is located, was previously ordered to rectify its fire safety measures due to, quote, non-compliance with fire safety standards. During last year's inspection, it was found out that the fire extinguishers were expired and the emergency exits were blocked with goods. They later paid a fine to settle the issue. Insiders revealed that if proper collective measures had been taken at that time, perhaps this disaster could have been avoided. Recently, many regions in China have experienced a continuous heat wave with the perceived temperature in Hanzhou approaching 50 degrees Celsius. Some factories storing large amounts of flammable materials have seen a rise in fire incidents. In the morning of July 19, a massive fire broke out at Zhejiang Wanping International Auto Parts Market in Chantang District, Hanzhou. Flames surged from the windows, with explosions echoing continuously. Multiple warehouses were engulfed in flames, and thick smoke resembling a black dragon swirled through the sky. The fire was visible from several kilometers away. Several people filmed videos showing the scene, where thick smoke billowed into the sky, and flames shot from many of the factory's windows accompanied by explosions. The surrounding areas were nearly completely covered by smoke, and nearby roads were urgently closed off. Many people stopped to watch and film the scene, while others called the emergency services. Witnesses revealed that the factory that caught fire likely stored flammable materials such as wood and furniture, which caused the fire to spread with unusual intensity. The area, known as the Logistics Park, contains multiple interconnected warehouses, and once the fire broke out, it quickly spread. The air was filled with a pungent odor. Officials have stated that no casualties have been reported so far. The incident has sparked heated discussions, with particular concern about the fire safety of steel-structured factories. Many people expressed worry, saying, Steel-structured factories have a low fire-resisting rating, and the fire spreads too quickly. In the afternoon of July 16, a fire broke out at a factory in Guali Town, Xiaoshan District, Hanzhou. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the fire spread rapidly. The owner of a noodle shop in the town said, I was in my shop this afternoon. The fire broke out at a foam manufacturing company just a few hundred meters across the street from us. The fire has been burning for over two hours. More than 20 fire trucks have arrived, and even now at 7 p.m., they're still here on standby. None of them have left. Upon checking the map, it was found out that the fire originated less than two kilometers away from Hanzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. Subsequently, Hanzhou Xiaoshan International Airport issued a statement regarding the fire. The fire occurred outside the runway perimeter, and flight operations were not affected. In the comments section of the video, some people expressed doubt about the official statement. From my personal experience, I can confirm that the news isn't always accurate. The plane I was on had to be diverted to Ningbo. How can they say there was no impact? Many people have commented, what's going on in Hanzhou these days? It's all over the trending news. This has caused who knows how much damage. Hanzhou has been praised all year, but the real problems are finally starting to surface. Recent temperature records from Sichuan and Chongqing show that extreme heat has surpassed 42 degrees Celsius, with a perceived temperature exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures have led to electrical equipment operating beyond capacity, with circuit aging or transformer failures becoming common causes of fire. On July 17, a transformer caught fire in Wuxiang County, Chongqing, causing a power outage that lasted over 13 hours. The local temperature that day exceeded 40 degrees. A video shows the piercing sound of sirens in the pitch black night, with a massive fire burning in the distance, casting the shadows of tall buildings. Several cars were parked near the flames, and one car with its headlights sped past. The sound of conversation was drowned out by the crackling of the fire. Nearby residents reported that the incident occurred around the early hours of July 17. They were suddenly woken up by the heat after the air conditioner in their home stopped working. Looking outside, they saw a bright glow from the fire accompanied by crackling sounds, and later learned that the transformer had caught fire. Especially during the peak summer heat, if companies neglect the maintenance of fire safety equipment, allow electrical wires to age, or improperly store flammable materials in an effort to cut operating costs, it is akin to planting a time bomb under the blazing sun. The frequent fires also highlight regulatory loopholes in local government oversight. In July, thermal runway and lithium batteries of the new energy vehicles under high temperatures led to frequent explosions and fire accidents. On the afternoon of July 16, two heavy-duty trucks collided and caught fire on the Jiangsu Expressway. One was a delivery vehicle, and the other was a car transporter. The fire quickly spread, engulfing several new energy vehicles, and was accompanied by explosions, making the scene particularly devastating. An online video shows massive flames burning fiercely, with thick black smoke rolling through the air, and several vehicles being destroyed by the fire. Rescue personnel at the scene described the fire as unusually intense, with electric vehicle batteries experiencing multiple explosive fires due to the high temperatures. Fire departments deployed 12 foam fire trucks and fought the blaze for three hours before they were able to bring it under control. Witnesses reported that once the electric vehicles caught fire, they continued to burn, emitting thick black smoke, with occasional explosions heard. Many onlookers gathered around the scene. Chinese media reported that the transport vehicle was carrying about 20 brand-new, undelivered vehicles, which significantly contributed to the fire's scale. The economic loss from this incident is estimated to be as high as 30 million yuan. The accident, involving the burning transport truck and electric vehicles, obstructed traffic on the highway for at least six hours, trapping many vehicles in the area. Official reports state that no casualties were caused by the incident. People commented, The electric vehicles caused a thermal runaway, reaching temperatures of over 1,000 degrees. Once the battery is punctured, it explodes, and the fire can only burn itself out. It can't be extinguished. Another shared, A few days ago, during a fire safety class, firefighters said that since the promotion of EVs, fire accidents have doubled. Especially with the loose management and numerous manufacturers of electric vehicles, they clearly told us that when an EV catches fire, we can only prevent it from spreading. It's impossible to put out the fire. As China vigorously develops new energy vehicles, the demand for lithium batteries from major automakers is increasing. This has led to the greater attention being paid to the safety of lithium batteries. Hundreds of millions of yuan are gone. Private cars have all burned down. Both private cars and electric vehicles are completely destroyed. On the afternoon of July 15, a fire broke out at a workshop of Zhejiang New Era Zongnan The flames surged wildly. Thick smoke billowed, and firelight shot into the sky. The fire burned from evening until dawn. The company, located in the Hangzhou Bay Shangyu Economic Development Zone in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, primarily focuses on lithium battery recycling. It has two major production bases to dismantle 50,000 tons of retired lithium batteries annually and produce metals such as cobalt and nickel. Interestingly, four years ago, on July 15, 2021, a fire also broke out at the old factory, a New Era Group, Zhejiang New Energy. This company is jointly owned by the New Era Holding Group, a subsidiary of China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, and private enterprises, combining both state-owned and private capital backgrounds. Recently, an explosion occurred in an underground private garage in a community while charging a new EV, which has drawn online attention. On the morning of July 16, a new energy vehicle caught fire while charging in the underground parking garage of a central community in Heze, Shandong Province. The fire spread rapidly, and the vehicle was ultimately reduced to a shell. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Property staff pointed out that the fire was directly caused by the vehicle owner illegally using an extension cord from a storage room to charge the car. Some people commented, Official statistics show that by 2025 so far, there have been 327 fires involving electric vehicles nationwide, with 80% of them occurring during the charging process. Some people have commented that whenever an accident happens, Chinese-made EVs often catch fire immediately, urging people to avoid purchasing Chinese-brand electric vehicles. High summer temperatures significantly increase the risk of spontaneous combustion in EVs. On July 13, in Putian, Fujian Province, a new EV suddenly caught fire. After emitting thick smoke four times, it exploded. The entire explosion process was captured on surveillance cameras. The suspected cause of the fire was a thermal runaway in the vehicle's battery pack, leading to the explosion. Chinese media reported that 76% of users are concerned about the safety of new EVs, with more than 60% believing that gasoline-powered cars are safer. This reflects consumers' lingering doubts about the maturity of electric vehicle technology and their ability to handle accidents. In the early morning of July 15, a loud explosion shattered the tranquility of a residential complex in Chongming District. Local resident Aunt Zhang, who was sound asleep, suddenly smelled a burning odor. When she opened the window, she was stunned to see the non-motorized vehicle parking area downstairs had turned into a sea of flames. The orange-red flames reached as high as three stories, and thick smoke surged like a black wave towards the residential building. Witness Ms. Li recalled, At that moment, the entire sky was glowing red, with constant popping and explosion sounds. It felt like the building was about to collapse from the fire. According to the fire department, the fire consumed the entire parking shed within 15 minutes, with temperatures on-site exceeding 800 degrees Celsius. Forty EVs were reduced to nothing but twisted metal frames, and even the steel structure of the shed's roof melted into twisted shapes. After receiving the alarm, the local fire department urgently dispatched three fire trucks and 18 firefighters to the scene. Firefighter Mr. Wang said, When we arrived, the fire was in its most intense phase, and burning debris from the parking shed roof kept falling, making it impossible for the structure to collapse at any moment. A fire engineer pointed at the wreckage and explained, Look at these EV batteries, they burned up like coal briquettes. Once the lithium battery experiences thermal runaway, extinguishing the fire is extremely difficult. This is why the fire spread so quickly. As daylight broke, the scene was horrifying. The once orderly parking area had turned into a scorched wasteland. Burned EVs were scattered haphazardly, with some wheels melted into pools of molten metal, and some seats reduced to just springs. Preliminary estimates show that the fire caused a direct economic loss exceeding 200,000 yuan, leaving 40 families stranded without transportation. Ms. Wang, looking at the wreckage, choked up. I bought my electric vehicle for over 5,000 yuan, and I've only been riding it for six months. It's what I rely on to take my child to school and get to work. What am I supposed to do now? On July 7, a fire broke out on the ground floor of a residential building in Yampu District, Shanghai, leaving four people with varying degrees of burn injuries, one with burns covering up to 95% of their body. Police investigations indicated that the fire was caused by an electric bicycle's battery catching fire. The fire department has since launched an investigation, with preliminary assumptions suggesting that the fire may have been related to the charging of the electric bicycle. Homeowner Mr. Liu expressed the concern shared by many, saying, Every time I see an electric bicycle charging in the hallway, I'm filled with anxiety. Recently, temperatures across the country have been soaring, and news of EVs catching fire keeps flooding in. There have been reports of EVs rushing into rivers, with water boiling and steam rising, while the fire continues to burn on the surface of the water. Firefighters sprayed foam extinguishers relentlessly, but the fire only grew stronger. Once a lithium battery catches fire, it's like a ticking time bomb. In 2024, an even more absurd incident occurred in a Guangdong underground parking garage. One EV caught fire, leading to more than 100 cars burning. When the insurance company woke up to the bill, they were ready to run. Two months ago, a Huawei Aito M7 Plus SUV caught fire after rear-ending a water tanker on the overtaking lane, resulting in three fatalities. The self-ignition of EVs in fire incidents due to collisions are the most fatal flaws of electric cars. No wonder people say as long as a gasoline car is still running, they won't touch an electric car. Many underground garages now even put up signs banning electric cars, fearing they might become mobile firebombs. On July 6, a fire broke out at a repair shop for pure electric cars and hybrid vehicles in Guangdong, while the shop was repairing an EV. The fire was accompanied by the sound of exploding vehicle components. This incident once again brought the safety issue of new EVs to the forefront. At the scene, someone remarked, The new EV battery pack is made up of small individual batteries. When one burns, they all explode, just like fireworks. The frequent fire incidents involving new EVs highlight the dangers posed by lithium battery thermal runaway, low-quality, low-cost batteries, and chaotic charging management. Research from Beijing Institute of Technology points out that low-cost electric vehicles are a significant factor in the increasing number of fires. Under the premise that safety issues remain unresolved, vigorously promoting new EVs show that the Chinese government is disregarding the lives of its people, eventually the public's trust will be burned away.