Fire kills 7 at China children's home

2013-01-04 10:03

(File, AFP)

Beijing - A fire killed at least seven children on Friday at a private foster home in the central Chinese province of Henan, state media said.

The fire broke out about 08:00 (0000 GMT) at the home in Lankao county, the official China.com.cn website reported.

The number of dead and injured remained unclear and police were still investigating the cause of the fire, the report said.

The home was run by Yuan Lihai, who was well known locally for helping abandoned children and had cared for more than 100 children since 1987, state broadcaster China Central Television said.

The broadcaster said 39 children were living at Yuan's home in September 2011.

Yuan reportedly sold items in front of the county hospital to pay for her care of the children.

- SAPA