Building fire kills 14 in northern China

At least 14 people were killed and dozens more were hospitalized after a massive fire tore through a high-rise building in China's northern Shanxi province, state media reported on Monday.

The incident occurred in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, on Sunday evening, Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported, citing local authorities.

Some 38 people were sent to the hospital on Sunday, including five who had died. By Monday morning, the death toll had increased to 14.

The building is located in downtown Taiyuan, close to hospitals, schools, commercial centers and tourist sites.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

China has a history of deadly fires due to lax building codes.

In November last year, a huge blaze engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people.

A month later, a fire at a residential building in southern China's Guangdong province killed 12 people.