11 dead in NE China nursing home blaze

Photo taken on July 26, 2013 shows the accident site at the Lianhe Senior Nursing Home where a fire took place in Hailun City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Eleven people were killed in the fire that occurred early Friday. A total of 283 elderly people were living in the nursing home, which was built in October 2005. With an area of 7,000 square meters, it caters for the rural elderly in the city who have no source of income. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

The death toll from a fire in a nursing home in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province rose to 11 at noon on Friday as another body was found, local authorities said.

The blaze happened at about 1:15 a.m. on Friday in the inpatient building of the Lianhe Senior Nursing Home in Hailun City, according to the municipal government's publicity department.

As of 1 p.m. the identities of 10 of the dead have been confirmed, and their ages range from 46 to 87, according to the department.

There were 32 people in the inpatient building, which covers an area of 300 square meters, when the fire broke out.

A total of 283 people were living in the nursing home, which was built in October 2005. With a total area of 7,000 square meters, it caters for the rural elderly in the city who have no source of income.

The nursing home has been cordoned off. There have been reports that the fire was caused by arson, but this could not be confirmed by police on site.