Agencies
Beijing
At least 16 people were killed in a fire that broke out in a high-rise building in China on Wednesday, according to local media.
The fire broke out on Wednesday evening in a 14-storey building in the south-western city of Zigong, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire was caused by construction work in a department store located inside the building.
Video footage published by Chinese internet portal The Paper showed a building engulfed in thick smoke, with people waiting for rescue on the roof.
Videos of the fire spread on social media, showing clouds of thick black smoke coming out of the windows from the building’s lower levels and engulfing the entire structure as they rose into the sky.
The emergency department called on the public “not to believe or amplify rumours” about the incident.
According to Xinhua, the rescue operation has been completed, and there are no more people trapped inside the building.
