At least six workers were killed and seven persons injured even as several others remained trapped today inside a multi-story garment factory when the building caught fire in China's Henan Province.
Six bodies were found when the firefighters searched the building after the fire was extinguished. Seven workers were injured in the incident, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
A total of 26 fire engines and 140 firefighters took part in the operation to douse the fire.
Earlier, media reports said that one worker, who jumped off the roof of the burning building, was killed. Many others remained trapped inside the building.
Flames engulfed the top floor of a six-story factory building in the provincial capital Zhengzhou at around 1:20 PM, a spokesperson with the city's fire brigade said.
He said the flames were put out at 4 PM and four persons were hospitalised.
Witnesses said they heard explosions before the fire.
Photos and videos of the fire was flashed all over Chinese social media. Earlier, reports said that many others remained trapped by the flames. Screams for help could be heard as workers at the factory building ran to the roof in an effort to escape but got trapped by dense smoke.
The factory was located in Zhengzhou National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. As flames engulfed the building more explosions followed, the report said.
A rescue operation was underway.
