Fire at China club leaves 43 dead

Many partygoers were hurt in a stampede to escape down “a narrow aisle,” a club staff member was quoted by the agency as saying.

“I saw people rushing out ... and all the lights were off,” it quoted Yang Zhi as saying. Xinhua said Mr. Yang suffered burns to his neck.

The fire, which broke out late Saturday, also injured at least 88 people, said the official with the Shenzhen Work Safety Bureau. Like many Chinese officials, the man refused to give his name.

Shenzhen is just over the border with Hong Kong in Guangdong province.

The official Xinhua News Agency did not give a cause for the fire, which has been put out. It said senior government officials had ordered an investigation.

Fires and accidents in bars, theatres and other public places are common in China despite government pledges to improve safety. Many are caused by negligence and lax safety procedures, such as a lack of fire extinguishers and emergency exits.

The fire broke out at 2300 (1500GMT) on Saturday, Xinhua news agency said.

The nightclub is located in the Long Gang district of the city, which is near the border with Hong Kong, media there said.

The causes of the fire remain unclear, but an investigation has now been launched.