An office building in downtown Shanghai caught fire on Sunday morning, but no casualties have been reported.

 

The city's fire brigade said the fire took place at around 10:30 a.m. at the four-storey Qianchen office building on East Yan'an Road in Waitan.

 

The blaze began on the first floor before spreading upwards, dense smoke billowing across the building.

 

Few people were inside the building when it caught fire. One person was rescued by firefighters and none have so far been reported injured.

 

The fire was quenched about one hour later and an investigation is already underway into the cause.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2006)