An early morning fire killed 13 people in an apartment building in central China on Thursday, state media said.
The fire erupted on the ground level of the seven-story building in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, but did not spread far on a rainy night, China Central Television reported. It said the deaths occurred on the top floor, meaning the victims likely died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Multiple people were hospitalized with burn injuries, the broadcaster said. The Zhengzhou No. 1 People's Hospital confirmed that four people were under urgent medical treatment for burns.
The TV network said the cause of the fire was not known.
Many apartments in China are not properly maintained, and haphazard remodeling projects can leave behind safety hazards such as improper wiring, bad ventilation and the removal of supporting struts.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.