18 killed in China hotel blaze

At least 18 people were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a hot springs hotel in north-east China's Harbin city on Saturday.

Xinhua quoted a source of the provincial fire department saying that the incident occurred in a four-storeyed building in Songbei district of the city.

According to China's state broadcaster, CCTV, the fire began after 4:30 am (local time) and spread massively before it could be doused. It took three hours to extinguish the fire.

An investigation into the incident has been initiated.