CHINA: Over 90 people were killed in fires yesterday in two Chinese cities; one swept through a temple, the other a crowded shopping mall where panic-stricken shoppers jumped from windows to escape the blaze.
Officials said at least 53 people were killed and more than 60 injured when fire broke out on the second floor of the busy four-storey Zhongbai Commercial Plaza in the northeastern city of Jilin, which housed shops, a dance hall and a bath house.
Most of the victims were customers on the third and fourth floors enjoying baths and billiard games, an official at the Jilin city government said.
"Shoppers on the second floor where the fire started were pretty lucky because they were able to run away," he said by telephone.
Witnesses said many people, bundled in thick coats against the sharp cold, jumped from top floors. An official at Jilin's Central Hospital said many of the injured suffered from smoke inhalation or shattered legs as they hit the ground after leaping.
Authorities were still investigating the cause. The official Xinhua news agency said a preliminary investigation indicated the fire started in a temporary storehouse near a boiler room.
A separate fire tore through a temple in eastern China, killing 39 worshippers and injuring four, Xinhua said.
The fire engulfed the temple at Haining in Zhejiang province as pilgrims were worshipping, Xinhua said. It was put out about 30 minutes later.
There were no further details immediately available.
It was not entirely clear whether it was a typical Chinese Buddhist temple or used by people of another faith.