The death toll from a meat shop fire has risen to six after a nine-month-old infant was confirmed dead in the accident in central China's Hubei Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. in the shop on the ground floor of a seven-storey building in downtown Ezhou City, a spokesman with the local fire-fighting authorities said.

The fire was put out at about 4:25 a.m., the spokesman said.

Rescuers had earlier retrieved five adult bodies from the debris.

All the six dead were family members and relatives of a meat shop employee surnamed Chen. They have been living in the shop.


The fire burns a meat store on Shizi Street in Ezhou City, central China's Hubei Province, early March 3, 2009. Six people were killed in the fire. (Xinhua/Xiao Xuan)
The owner of the meat shop, Hu Lianghu, has been detained by police.

Local authorities are investigating the accident.


A firefighter works at a meat store on Shizi Street in Ezhou City, central China's Hubei Province, early March 3, 2009. Six people were killed in the fire. (Xinhua/Xiao Xuan)
Source: Xinhua