Death toll rises to 10 in central China hotel fire

Photo taken on Jan. 13, 2011 shows the burnt hotel in Yuelu District of Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. A hotel fire in Changsha has claimed 10 lives, local government said Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

A hotel fire in China's central Hunan Province has claimed four more lives, taking the death toll to 10, local government said Thursday.

The fire ripped through the small Xinawan Hotel, in Yuelu District of provincial capital Changsha just before 1 a.m., killing six at the scene and injuring eight others, the Yuelu District government said in a statement.

Four of the eight injured died after they were rushed to hospital, and the other four are in stable condition, according to the statement.

Most of the deceased died of smoke inhalation as hotel windows were shut fast for the winter, said the fire brigade of Changsha City.

The fire was extinguished at 2:10 a.m. and about 50 people were evacuated, according to the fire brigade.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

Source: Xinhua
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