At least 18 people were killed and five others injured at a devastating fire that allegedly caused by arson at a karaoke bar in Qingyuan City in southern China, according to Xinhua report.
Preliminary investigations showed that the fire was caused by arson, police said, adding that the authorities were stepping up investigations.
The public security bureau of Qingyuan City in Guangdong province said police, fire, health and other departments sent rescuers to the site after receiving a call around half-past midnight about the fire.
The fire was put out at 12:55 am and the injured had been sent to the hospital, the bureau said on its official account on the microblog site, Sina Weibo, reports AP.
China suffers frequent deadly fires and industrial accidents, often blamed on negligence.
Last year, police arrested a man suspected of setting fire to a two-story house in eastern China, killing 22 people.
