Death Toll from Department Store Fire in China Rises to 16

The Chinese authorities announced Thursday that the death toll from the department store fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, has risen to 16.The fire started in the 14-story building, located in a high-tech zone in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, Wednesday.According to the local fire and rescue headquarters, 75 people who were trapped inside the building had been evacuated.Fires and other fatal accidents are common in China due to sometimes lax enforcement of safety standards.Source: Qatar News Agency