BEIJING — A fire at a southern China shopping mall has killed at least 17 people and injured nine others, including at least one fire-fighter who was seriously hurt, officials said Friday.
The fire broke out Thursday afternoon on the fourth floor of the Yiwu Shopping Mall in Huizhou City in southern Guangdong province and was controlled that night, said a statement issued Friday by the Communist Party's propaganda department in Huidong county, according to The Associated Press.
According to witnesses, more than 10 people were seen stuck in the cinema on the fourth floor after the fire, dpa reported the statement said as saying. Rescuers searched throughout the night for people trapped in the building.
AP said the propaganda department said the cause of the fire was still under investigation, but state broadcaster CCTV said it started in a movie theatre on the fourth floor where decorative materials were flammable and toxic.
More than 300 people were evacuated. One firefighter inhaled smoke and is in a "serious condition", according to the statement reported by dpa, which reported four fire-fighters in all sustained injuries. AP reported just one.
AP said CCTV said authorities in the county detained nine people in connection with the blaze.