Fire engulfs ethnic village in SW China

A fire engulfs an ethnic village in southwest China's Guizhou province Friday afternoon, with more than 60 houses destroyed. (Photo: Sina Weibo of Beijing News)

A fire engulfed an ethnic village in southwest China's Guizhou province Friday afternoon, with more than 60 houses destroyed, local authorities said Saturday.

The fire broke out at around 3:40 pm in Jiuji village, Jianhe county, affecting 619 residents, according to the county government. It was extinguished at 6 p.m., with no casualties reported.

Jiuji is one of the biggest and best preserved villages of the Miao ethnic minority. It was selected by China as a UNESCO World Heritage site nominee in 2006.

An investigation is under way.