A village in Hongxing Town, Funan County, Anhui province became the center of controversy on Tuesday after residents accused local officials of demanding the cremation of an elderly woman who was still alive.
The incident began when a family member posted videos showing the elderly woman lying on the floor while government staff stood at the doorway, sparking widespread criticism online about the insensitivity of funeral policy enforcement.
Hongxing Town government clarified Tuesday that the situation resulted from a cultural misunderstanding. "There is a local custom where terminally ill individuals are placed on the ground," officials explained, noting that staff were actually conducting routine publicity about funeral policy reforms rather than demanding immediate cremation.
The town government issued a formal apology, acknowledging "oversimplified working methods and inappropriate approaches" in their promotion of burial reform policies. Officials have visited the family to apologize personally and seek understanding.
According to local policies, the county provides free corpse transportation, cremation and ashes storage services. The town government pledged to improve implementation methods while respecting local customs and ensuring dignified funeral arrangements.
