<p>Beijing: Sixteen people were killed in a fire at a department store in Sichuan province in China's southwest on Wednesday evening, state media said on Thursday.</p><p>The fire broke out in a 14-storey building in a high-tech zone of the city of Zigong, shrouding the vicinity with thick smoke, according to the <em>Xinhua news agency</em>.</p><p>Overnight rescue work ended at 3:00 am (1900 GMT on Wednesday), state broadcaster CCTV said.</p>.<p>Preliminary investigation showed the fire was due to construction operations. Further investigation was underway to identify the specific cause of the fire. </p>
<p>Beijing: Sixteen people were killed in a fire at a department store in Sichuan province in China's southwest on Wednesday evening, state media said on Thursday.</p><p>The fire broke out in a 14-storey building in a high-tech zone of the city of Zigong, shrouding the vicinity with thick smoke, according to the <em>Xinhua news agency</em>.</p><p>Overnight rescue work ended at 3:00 am (1900 GMT on Wednesday), state broadcaster CCTV said.</p>.<p>Preliminary investigation showed the fire was due to construction operations. Further investigation was underway to identify the specific cause of the fire. </p>