Hengyang fire death toll likely to rise
( 2003-11-04 22:12) (China Daily)
The bodies of nine
firefighters were found yesterday, a day after a blaze destroyed an eight-storey
building in Hengyang, Central China's Hunan Province.
The death toll is expected to rise as 11 firefighters are still missing and
one is in critical condition in hospital.
Two firefighters were initially reported killed in the blaze, which broke out
around dawn on Monday.
Part of the building collapsed at 8:30 yesterday morning while firefighters
were trying to quell the flames, and more than a dozen were buried in the
debris.
The fire was extinguished yesterday afternoon and more than 400 residents
living in the building have been safely evacuated.
The building served both commercial and residential use.
The cause of the fire, which started in the building's basement, is still
under investigation, officers with the Hengyang public security bureau
said.
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