The government of a northern Chinese county has ordered all foot massage parlors, karaoke bars and bath houses to temporarily shut after a deadly fire claimed 11 lives, local authorities said on Thursday.

The order was handed down by Chengde County in Hebei Province following an early morning blaze on Wednesday at the Blue Sky Foot Massage Parlor and Gedu Karaoke Bar that killed 10 women and one man in Xiabancheng Township.

The blaze broke out at about 4:47 AM at the two-storey building and adjoining foot-massage parlor. Altogether, 17 people were inside when the fire started.

Four people from the karaoke bar escaped and another two were saved by fire-fighters. Among the dead were the female boss of the foot massage operation, Zheng Xinting of Hulan County, northeastern Heilongjiang Province, eight masseuses and a karaoke waitress who were sleeping in the residential quarters on the second floor. A karaoke bar waiter was also found dead in an aisle, said Lu Wenlong, Chengde County deputy head.

An initial investigation revealed that the fire started from the massage parlor on the ground floor and spread to the karaoke bar. Its cause remained unknown. It was extinguished at about 5:10 AM.

"The foot massage parlor was yet to be registered for a business certificate," Lu said. "It hadn't officially opened before the fire took place and the boss had been training her staff members."

The karaoke bar, however, was licensed, he added.

"Because all the people, including the boss of the foot massage parlor, were killed in the fire, we're unclear right now whether there was a business connection with the karaoke bar," he said.

The personal assets of karaoke hall boss, Wang Ying, have now been frozen, he added.

According to Yan Zongke, deputy head of the county government's general office, two of the 11 victims were locals. Three came from the neighboring Pingquan and Weichang counties, while two were from Heilongjiang Province. The other four were from northeastern Liaoning Province.

Relatives of the victims will each be compensated 134,000 yuan (US$17,866) according to relevant state regulations, Yan said.

"The county government will pay the compensation first because the boss of the foot massage parlor was killed in the fire," he said. "The boss of the karaoke bar only has limited assets."

Investigation into the cause of the fire was continuing.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2007)