Last Saturday afternoon, a dance hall in Dalian City, Liaoning Province, was set on fire by someone under the influence of alcohol, resulting in one death and three injuries. The deceased was the suspected arsonist.
Around 5 p.m. on April 27th, a major fire broke out at the Linlin Dance Hall on Ruyi Street in the Shahekou District of Dalian City. The 59-year-old suspect, Fan, set fire at the entrance of the dance hall and died on the spot. Three dance hall staff who participated in the rescue efforts were injured. They are currently receiving treatment in the hospital and are not in life-threatening condition.
A video circulating online shows flames and thick smoke continuously billowing out from the main entrance. According to reports, the deceased was a customer of the dance hall who set the fire after drinking. The motive for the arson is still under investigation.
At 9 p.m., Mr. Liu, a local resident of Dalian, told journalists that around 5 p.m., the Linlin Dance Hall indeed caught fire. He lives in a house behind the dance hall, while directly behind the dance hall is a hotel.
“I was upstairs at that time, and at first, I didn’t see the fire but heard a lot of noise downstairs, thinking there was a fight. Later, when I looked out the window, I saw thick smoke coming out of the Linlin Dance Hall,” Mr. Liu said.
Although the Linlin Dance Hall is only one story, it is relatively well-known in Dalian. It caters to the general public with moderate prices, and the ticket price is around a dozen yuan.