16 people were killed in a fire in a shopping center in China. A fire broke out in a shopping center in the country's southwestern Sichuan province on Wednesday evening local time. State media confirmed this information on Thursday, according to a Reuters report.

, a fire broke out in a 14-story building in a high-tech zone in Jigong city. At that time thick smoke covered the surrounding area.

The situation was brought under control around 3 am local time after the rescue operation was carried out overnight. Preliminary investigation showed that the fire started from the construction work. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.