The local authorities said the fire broke out early on Feb 23, 2024 morning. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

NANJING – Fifteen people were killed after a building fire broke out Friday morning in Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu province, the municipal government said on Saturday morning.

According to officials, the local fire department received an alarm about the fire in a residential building in the Yuhuatai district at 4:39 am on Friday. 

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Rescuers put out the flames at around 6 am, and the search and rescue operation at the scene ended at around 2 pm.

Forty-four injured people are receiving hospital treatment.

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A preliminary investigation found that the fire erupted on the building's first floor, where electrical bicycles were placed.

Further investigation is underway.