Major building fire in central China kills at least 6

Major building fire in central China kills at least 6

2011-01-18 14:47:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

WUHAN, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- At least six people were killed on late Monday evening when a fire swept through a building in central China that was being used for both housing and commercial purposes, state-run media reported on Tuesday.

The fire at the four-story building in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, broke out at around 11 p.m. local time on Monday and was extinguished by 1 a.m. local time. The fire had spread rapidly over 900 square meters of floor.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, rescue workers were able to recover six bodies from the building, which had a food market on the ground floor. Most of the more than 20 people who lived in the building were able to escape the flames.

Officials fear that the fire, to which more than 200 firefighters were dispatched, may have claimed more victims. A search of the building is continuing.

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