Some 213 people were evacuated and rescued after the blaze broke out around 8:20 a.m. in the Wenfu Mansion in Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang province, Xinhua said, citing fire officials.

A fire department official telephoned Wednesday said the flames had been extinguished and no residents were left in the building. He would give only his family name, Zhang.

Twelve men and nine women died from burns and smoke inhalation, Xinhua said.

Witnesses said the fire broke out in a flower shop on the first floor and spread to a recreational center on the second story, according to Xinhua. The cause was under investigation, it said.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 12 Aralık 2007, 12:09