Arson Linked To Guangdong Karaoke Fire, 18 Dead

A fire tore through a karaoke lounge in Guangdong on Tuesday, killing 18 people and injuring another five in what authorities suspect was an arson attack.

The blaze took place after midnight in a three-storey building in Qingyuan City and was put out shortly before 1am local time, according to the police.

A preliminary investigation found that the fire was caused by arson, the Qingyuan public security department said on its Weibo social media account.

"The public security authorities are stepping up their investigation," the authorities in Qingyuan said.

The suspect got into an argument, then used a motorcycle to block the building's door and lit the fire, state broadcaster CCTV said, adding that the suspect was on the run.

The police statement did not describe the location of the fire but state media said it occurred in a small karaoke lounge.

A video from the scene posted by state-run daily Global Times on Twitter shows flames leaping from a building on a tree-lined street at night, as a crowd looked on and at least one rescue vehicle flashed its lights.

The lounge where the fire occurred had only one corridor for entry and exit, state TV said. (AFP)