At least 39 people have been reported dead after a fire broke out in a shop in the central Chinese province of Jiangxi, writes the BBC.
According to media reports, the fire started on Wednesday afternoon local time in the basement of a building in Xinyu City.
Dozens of emergency service personnel have been sent to the scene and efforts to contain the explosion are underway.
It is learned that a number of other people were also injured.
President Xi Jinping has called for an investigation into the cause of the fire and to "curb" such deadly incidents in the country.
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At least 20 dead in fire on cargo ship in China
Wednesday's fire comes days after 13 children died when a fire broke out in a school dormitory in central Henan province.
Seven employees were later arrested by the police.
