(Vatican Radio) An industrial fire in northeastern China has left at least 61 people
dead. Rescue teams have been battling the blaze, which broke out in a poultry slaughterhouse,
early Monday morning local time near Dehui in China's Jilin province.
Fire-fighters
tried to control the blaze, but it swept through sheds. About 300 workers were inside
at the time, China's state news agency said, adding that about 100 escaped but that
the main gate was locked, and narrow exits complicated the rescue effort.
China
has suffered a string of deadly fires in recent years. In 2008, a fire at a nightclub
in the city of Shenzhen killed 44 people. A police commander was jailed for taking
bribes to let the venue remain open.