Fires claim more than 1100 lives in the first half

More than 200,000 fire accidents were reported in China in the first half of 2015, killing 1,109 people, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Monday.

The ministry said 599 people were injured in these accidents and direct property losses amounted to 2.22 billion yuan (about 360 million U.S. dollars).

About 80 percent of major accidents were caused by human actions or violations of safety rules, while most victims lost their lives due to weak awareness of fire risks and a lack of knowledge on escape routes, according to the statement.

To reduce fire accidents and casualties, new fire safety education guidelines for offices, schools and households were released Monday.

According to the proposals, jointly released by authorities including the MPS and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, education will help citizens understand fire risks, the appropriate way to raise an alarm, how to put out a fire and escape when in danger.