Fire kills seven in central China shopping area

CHANGSHA, Dec. 22 -- Seven people are dead and six are injured after a fire swept through a shopping street in Shaling County, central China's Hunan Province, on Tuesday.

The fire broke out at about 4 a.m. at Yuyang Commercial Street in Chengguan Township. It was brought under control two hours later, said a spokesman with the county government.

He said the cause of the fire was not immediately known. The injured have been sent to hospital. The rescue work is continuing.

The county is seated 200 km east of the provincial capital of Changsha.