China protests: Demonstrations erupt across country in response to COVID-zero policy, deadly Xinjiang fire

The catalyst for the protests was a deadly fire in the north-west region of Xinjiang on November 24.

Ten people were killed in the blaze in the regional capital of Urumqi, and many people laid the blame at COVID-zero.

Xinjiang has been under harsh lockdowns for over three months to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Videos circulated on social media showed an arc of water from a distant fire truck falling short of the fire, sparking waves of angry comments online.

Some said fire engines had been blocked by pandemic control barriers or by cars stranded after their owners were put in quarantine, but the reason why the truck was far away was unclear.