Two people have been reported missing from Wednesday's two-building fire here that killed three firemen and injured another.
The fire, which began in a 12-story market and office building, spread to an adjacent 20-story hotel. Xinjiang Doowin Industrial and Commercial Group Co., Ltd., owner of the market-office building, has confirmed that two people, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were missing.
Witnesses said the two missing, both of whom worked for the planning department of the Dehui International Plaza -- the market-office building -- were in their office when the fire broke out on the first floor.
"Their families and colleagues have had no contact with them since the fire occurred," said Gou Wei, spokesman with the Doowin group.
The blaze began in a mop stall at 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday in the building, which is in downtown Urumqi, capital of the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
A security guard who had worked in the building said that firemen had arrived at the scene within 15 minutes but were unable to prevent the blaze from spreading to the hotel, which had to be evacuated.
Firemen extinguished the blaze on Thursday night and an investigation into the cause was under way. The costs have yet to be calculated.
The municipal government of Urumqi has decided to demolish the building, vice mayor Zhang Hong said on Friday.
Source: Xinhua
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