Protests against Covid restrictions in China appear to be intensifying after a fire broke out in an apartment block in Urumqi.
In the city of Shanghai, videos posted on social media by foreign journalists showed thousands of people taking to the streets to remember the victims and protest against the Covid restrictions.
Hundreds of people were heard calling for President Xi Jinping to resign.
Many have blamed the lockdown of residential buildings for the fire.
Chinese authorities have denied it was the cause. However, Urumqi authorities issued a rare apology late on Friday – vowing to punish anyone who shirked their duty.
At the gathering in Shanghai, some people were seen lighting candles and laying flowers for the victims.
Others were heard chanting “Xi Jinping, step down” and “Communist Party, step down”. Some even carried blank white banners.
Such demands are an unusual sight within China, where direct criticism of the government and president can result in harsh punishments.
Some protesters also abused the police, who lined the streets where people had gathered.
One protester told the Associated Press that one of his friends had beaten up police at the scene, while two others had been pepper-sprayed. In videos from other parts of the protest, it can be seen that police are standing guard as people protest.
Although the situation in the area had calmed down by Sunday morning, JEE News saw a heavy police presence at the protest site, with dozens of police officers, private security guards and plainclothes police lining the streets.
Elsewhere, photos and videos of students protesting at several Chinese universities emerged online on Saturday night. The biggest gathering seemed to be at Nanjing Communication University.
Videos of the protests are difficult to independently verify, but many of them are unusually frank and outspoken in their criticism of the government and its leader.
