Hotel fire kills 20 in Harbin

HARBIN - Twenty people were killed in a hotel fire that broke out Saturday morning in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the local fire department confirmed, as rescue work ended Sunday.

The deadly fire started at 4:36 am Saturday at Beilong Hot Spring Leisure Hotel in Songbei District. It was put out at 7:50 am.

Firemen found a further body at 2 pm Sunday. Eighteen bodies were found at the site and a person was declared dead at hospital after treatment failed on Saturday. A total of 23 injured are being treated in local hospitals.

The fire burnt an area of around 400 square meters, and the hotel owner surnamed Zhang was detained Saturday.

Further investigation is underway.