Department store fire kills 16 in China

Sixteen people have been killed after a fire broke out on Wednesday evening at a high-rise department store in Zigong City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, reported Xinhua.

The fire in the 14-story building, located in a high-tech zone in the city, was reported at approximately 6 p.m., and there was a significant amount of thick smoke at the scene, according to the local fire and rescue headquarters.

As of 10:30 p.m., 75 people who were trapped inside the building had been evacuated. The rescue operation is ongoing.