CHINA> Regional
Five die in north China building fire
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-09 22:39

HOHHOT - A building fire in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region killed five people and injured a firefighter on Tuesday, local authorities said.

The incident occurred at 8:35 a.m. in a building for vehicle sales, decoration and repair in Baotou City. The fire damaged 16 new vehicles on the first floor, officials said. The building belonged to Xinyuan Machinery Co. Ltd.

A 244-strong fire fighting force and 25 fire-fighting engines evacuated 33 people and put out the fire by 10:20 a.m. An investigation into the cause is underway.