Seventeen people were confirmed dead in a fire that occurred early on Sunday in Huangyan District of Taizhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

The fire broke out at 1:40 AM at a two-story store on Luting Road in eastern Huangyan District. The second floor of the store is used as living quarters, said Wu Jiye, deputy head of Huangyan District Government.

The fire was put out later by local fire fighters.

No other details, such as the cause of the fire, and the number of the injured, are available at the moment.

Local police is investigating the cause of the accident.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2007)