CHINA - High-rise apartment in China burns, kills 42

SHANGHAI (AP): Fire engulfed a high-rise apartment building under renovation in China's business centre of Shanghai yesterday, killing 42 people and sending residents scrambling down scaffolding to escape, city authorities said.

The official Xinhua news agency cited a witness saying the fire began when building materials had caught alight. The blaze spread to scaffolding and then to the 28-story apartment block itself, which houses a number of retired teachers, it said. The government said more than 100 fire trucks were called to battle the blaze and streams of water could be seen flowing into the building. The fire was largely put out about four hours later, it said. Firefighters could be seen taking bodies from the building.