At least 21 people died after a building in east China's Zhejiang Province caught fire on Wednesday morning, said rescuers.

The fire occurred around 8:20 a.m. in a 28-story residential building, Wenfu Mansion, in central Wenzhou City. Hundreds of residents were earlier reported to be trapped in the building.

It took more than 200 fire fighters and 33 fire engines to extinguish the fire.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but witnesses said that it started in a flower shop on the first floor and rapidly spread to an entertainment venue on the second floor. The whole building was soon engulfed in smoke.

(Photos: photobase.cn)

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2007)