A fire that engulfed a privately run nursing home for the elderly in Central China's Henan province on Monday night, killing 38 people and injuring six others, two of whom are in a critical condition, has once again revealed the poor care-providing system for senior people in many parts of the country, especially in its impoverished rural areas.

According to media reports, the nursing house in a village in Lushan county, which was home to 51 local elderly residents, was made of iron sheets with flammable foam board as filling. According to survivors, the rest home was short of staff, especially at night.

The final cause of the accident is yet to be investigated, but the exposure of the poor conditions of the makeshift structure, undoubtedly means it was a huge safety hazard. And surely the conditions increased the difficulties for anyone inside trying to escape and those outside trying to rescue them.