Fatal karaoke lounge fire

A FIRE in southern China at a karaoke TV lounge has killed 18 people, according to the official Xinhua news agency, citing local police.

Tuesday’s blaze occurred in Qingyuan city in Guangdong province, around an hour’s drive from the provincial capital of Guangzhou.

According to police in Qingyuan, the blaze started just after midnight in a threestorey building.

The police said it was initially believed the fire was started intentionally by someone and an investigation was now under way.