Death toll rises to 14 in central China hotel fire

WUHAN - Fourteen people have been confirmed dead in a hotel fire that occurred Sunday in Central China's Hubei province, local authorities said.

The fire broke out at 6:38 am in a hotel in the Fancheng district of the city of Xiangyang, the district government said.

The fire was extinguished at 8:50 am, according to local firefighters.

About 50 injured have been sent to local hospitals to receive treatment. Some are in serious condition.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, local police said.

Rooms of a hotel are seen on fire in Xiangyang city, Central China's Hubei province on April 14, 2013. [Photo provided by Fire Corps of Hubei Provincial Public Security Deparment]