Dormitory Fire Escape Turns Absurd as Chinese Female Students Told to "Show Your Face Before Leaving"...

Fire Occurs on 1st Floor of Dormitory at Zhilu University of Technology, China
Cause Identified as Auxiliary Battery... Fortunately, No Casualties
Students Trying to Escape Face Confusion Due to Facial Recognition Requirement

A fire broke out in a dormitory at a university in China, and controversy arose because students evacuating were required to undergo facial recognition to exit through the door. On the 13th, China’s Huashangbao Daifeng News reported, "On the 10th, a fire occurred on the first floor of the female dormitory at Jilu University of Technology Changqing Campus in Jinan, Shandong Province."

A fire broke out on the first floor of the female dormitory at the Changqing Campus of Rizhuo University of Technology in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, on the 10th. Weibo

At the time, flames and smoke rose, and students attempted to evacuate, but security bars were installed on the first-floor windows, so the students crowded toward the entrance. However, due to the smart access system installed at the entrance, students had to scan their faces one by one on the facial recognition device to be able to go outside. This process caused a crowd, creating a dangerous situation that could have led to a large-scale casualty.

On the Chinese social networking service (SNS) Weibo, testimonies from students presumed to be eyewitnesses at the scene continued. They included statements such as, “The administrator evacuated first, leaving students trapped in the dormitory,” “The door was closed despite the fire,” and “We had to have our faces recognized one by one to get out.”

Fortunately, the fire did not spread significantly, and the cause was confirmed to be a portable battery. The university stated, “It was a small fire caused by the explosion of a portable battery, and no casualties occurred,” but also expressed the position that “the operation of the facial recognition system is inevitable to ensure the safety of many students.”

As this position was conveyed, netizens expressed greater anger, saying, “It is obvious that the facial recognition procedure delays escape time,” and “If a similar situation occurs in the future, no one can guarantee everyone’s safety.” Since Chinese fire safety laws prohibit access control systems from obstructing escape during a fire, some voiced opinions that government action is necessary. One netizen pointed out, “It is questionable for whom the collection of students’ biometric information and control of escape is truly a safety measure.”