BEIJING, June 11: At least 31 people were killed and 15 others were injured in a hotel fire in the worst blaze in China’s southern Guangdong province for 11 years, state media said on Saturday. The blaze broke out shortly after noon on Friday and engulfed the top three floors of the four-storey Huanan Hotel, located in a downtown district of Shantou city, the Xinhua news agency said quoting local officials.

“This is the most fatal fire in the province since 1994,” Xinhua said.

“The incident on June 10 was the most serious fire accident in our province in recent years, this lesson of blood serves as a reminder that we cannot be complacent over work safety issues,” Guangdong governor Huang Huahua was quoted by the Nanfang Daily newspaper as saying.—AFP