Building fire kills 17 in Beijing

Xinhua, April 25, 2011

At least 17 people were killed, and 24 others injured, in a building fire in the southern Beijing suburb Monday morning, Beijing municipal police said.

The blaze was put out at around 2 a.m. after nearly 200 fire fighters and 27 fire engines were mobilized to extinguish the fire, said the police.

The fire broke out at around 1 a.m. Monday in a four-story building in Jiugong Town in Daxing District, said the police. The 24 injured people have been sent to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital.

Liu Qi, party secretary of Beijing, and the mayor Guo Jinlong have arrived at the site to direct the investigation.