Toddler burns down daddy's S China factory

Officers investigate at the accident site after a fire broke out in a clothing workshop in Junbu Township, Puning City, south China's Guangdong Province, March 26, 2014.

The cause of a clothing workshop fire that killed 12 people in south China's Guangdong province has been identified, authorities said Wednesday.

The three-year-old daughter of the workshop owner was playing with a lighter and ignited sponges stacked on the first floor, according to the Administration of Work Safety of Guangdong Province.

Twelve people suffocated and many others were injured in the fire on March 26 in Junbu Township, Puning City.

Wu Ximing, deputy head of the township, and two others were being investigated for suspected abuse of power.

Officials said the factory owner had been illegally using a residential building as a workshop, and violated fire laws, such as insufficient exits, shortage of fire-distinguishing equipment and failure to conduct safety training for employees.

Zheng Xiaosheng, the workshop owner, fled after the fire but has now turned himself in.

All but one of the injured have now been discharged from hospital. Families members of the 12 dead have signed compensation agreements.