Firefighters have pulled six dead bodies from a shopping centre in southwestern China after extinguishing a blaze that sent plumes of thick black smoke towering above the building, while some people are still trapped.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, around 30 others have been rescued from the shopping complex in the city Zigong in Sichuan province.
“Six people have been killed,” state broadcaster CCTV said, adding that search and rescue operations are continuing.
Footage broadcast by the channel and shared on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the building.
The fire started in the early evening in a shopping centre at the foot of a 14-storey building, the channel said.
Fire engines and ambulances could be seen nearby.
Zigong’s emergency services department received news about the fire at 6.11 local time and immediately dispatched firefighters to extinguish the blaze, the broadcaster said.
The emergency department has called on the public to “not to believe or amplify rumours” about the fire.
