The Chinese President is facing the most intense opposition to his leadership yet as thousands storm streets in a display of defiance.

The nation’s strict COVID-zero policy is being blamed for the deaths of 10 people, who could not escape an apartment fire in Urumqi, a city in the western Xinjiang region.

Many alleged that barricades in the building, brought in as anti-virus measures, prevented those inside from escaping the fire and that the official death toll was an undercount.

During Xinjiang’s lockdown, the doors of some residential buildings have been chained shut to enforce lockdown rules.

Officials have denied the allegations and say the residents were permitted to leave.

Furious protesters have called for President Xi Jinping to resign as authorities in at least eight cities attempted to clamp down on demonstrations.

The protests, which began on Friday, are the most widespread show of opposition to the ruling Communist Party in decades, and the worst President Xi has faced.

Demonstrators in Shanghai were heard openly shouting: “Xi Jinping, step down! Communist party, step down”.

Anger boiled over when Urumqi city officials appeared to shift responsibility for the deaths onto the apartment towers’ residents.

“Some residents’ ability to rescue themselves was too weak,” Li Wensheng, the head of Urumqi’s fire department said at a press conference.

BBC’s journalist @EP_Lawrence detained at a protest in Shanghai. https://t.co/hh2WvqAQb5

— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) November 27, 2022

Image: Twitter