China: House fire in southern Beijing suburb kills 19, injures 8

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The official Chinese news agency says a fire at a building advertising low-cost rental apartments in a southern Beijing suburb has killed 19 people and injured eight others.

Xinhua News Agency says firefighters put out the fire at Xinjian Village in the district of Daxing by 9 p.m. local time on Saturday, three hours after it was reported. Xinhua says the injured have been taken to a hospital for treatment.

Photos released by Xinhua showed firefighters outside a two-story concrete building with a red signboard advertising units with attached bathrooms, hot water, kitchens, heating and other basic amenities.

Such units are commonly rented out at low cost to migrant workers seeking labor-intensive jobs in the city. Reached by phone, the local fire department and district government refused to comment.