GUANGZHOU - The fire killing 15 at a ceramics factory in Foshan city on Tuesday was caused by short-circuit, local authorities said Sunday.

Short circuit occurred in an iron wire duct on the second floor of the office building of the Shengfeng Ceramics Company Sanshui Branch, said a spokesman with the Sanshui district of Foshan.

The fire broke out at around 6 am on Tuesday, engulfing the building. Fifteen people died and another was injured in the accident.

The factory's legal representative was in police custody on the same day.

The factory suspended production two days after the fire and dismissed more than 500 workers, who were granted a compensatory payment equivalent to an additional month's wage.