Deadly blaze rips through Shanghai skyscraper

SHANGHAI, China — Flames engulfed a high-rise apartment building in Shanghai on Monday, killing at least 12 people, injuring more than 90 and forcing some residents to jump from their windows to escape, according to reports.

The building in the Jing'an District of the Chinese city was being renovated when a fire broke out at 2 p.m. local time (1 a.m. ET), the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
Xinhua said the flames quickly spread from scaffolding to the skyscraper. The building housed many retired teachers, Xinhua added.
The fire appeared to have been put out about six hours later, and firefighters could be seen removing bodies from the building.
Citing hospital officials, Shanghai Daily tweeted that 12 people had died and about 50 others were injured. Shanghai Daily said that about 90 people had been rescued from the site.
A firefighter told The Associated Press that people were still trapped in the building, but he did not know how many. He would not give his name, as is common with Chinese officials.

'The glass of the windows was scalding' Survivor Li Xiuyun, 61, told the AFP news service that she, her husband, son and a granddaughter had fled from their home on the 16th floor.
"The smoke was very strong and the glass of the windows was scalding," she told AFP. "My son took off his socks and soaked them with water, and we used them to cover our noses. I stumbled on people on the floor when walking."
A building resident identified as Mr. Zhou told Hong Kong broadcaster Phoenix TV that he and his wife were napping in their 23rd floor apartment when they smelled smoke.
He said they climbed down the scaffolding four stories before being rescued by firefighters.
At one point helicopters could be seen hovering over the building, and witnesses said at least one resident was rescued by a helicopter, but thick smoke hampered further efforts. By evening the helicopters were gone.
More than 80 fire trucks and hundreds of firefighters were called to battle the blaze, Shanghai state television said, and streams of water could be seen flowing into the building, which appeared to be gutted.

1. Most popular
   1. ‘Boobies’ charity wrestles with success
   2. Cops suspect faulty Camry caused deadly crash
   3. Updated 9 minutes ago 11/15/2010 1:51:27 PM +00:00 Deadly blaze rips through Shanghai skyscraper
   4. Girl safe, 3 still missing in Ohio family case
   5. Report sheds light on how U.S. dealt with Nazis

A doctor at Shanghai's Jing'an Hospital surnamed Zhang said more than 20 seriously hurt people had been admitted for treatment.
State-run website Eastday.com cited a construction worker surnamed Qian who escaped from the 28th story as saying crews were installing energy-saving insulation when the fire occurred.
Qian said she was working when thick, rolling smoke clouds surrounded the building and the room she was in filled up with smoke, making it difficult to breathe.
Qian said she called the city's emergency hotline and then used a wet towel to cover her mouth and nose as she ran down a fire escape.