Shanghai fire toll rises to 53

SHANGHAI - The toll in a massive fire that engulfed a 28-storey skyscraper in Shanghai rose to 53 Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Over 70 people injured in the inferno were hospitalised, Xinhua reported.

The high-rise building, which housed 156 families of retired school teachers and is situated at the intersection of Jiaozhou road and Yuyao road, was being renovated at the time of the incident at about 2.15 p.m. Monday.

The blaze was brought under control at 6.30 p.m. after more than 100 fire engines were put into service. Helicopters were sent to rescue people trapped on the roof.

The cause of the fire was still unknown, but an eyewitness said he saw construction materials catching fire before the blaze climbed up the scaffolding and spread quickly.

The government has arranged food and accommodation for the fire-affected residents evacuated to nearby hotels.