- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:32 05:49 12:21 15:48 18:47 20:04
A pedlar who wears the mask of Osama Bin Laden peddles at the Ditan temple fair during Chinese New Year celebrations on January 31, 2009 in Beijing, China. Millions of Chinese geared up to welcome the Year of the Ox, packing temple fairs, setting off fireworks and firecrackers and hurrying to train and bus stations to get home for the traditional holiday (GETTY IMAGES)
The accident happened late Saturday evening in the city of Changle when a group celebrating a birthday set off fireworks at their table inside the bar, the Xinhua news agency said.
This set the ceiling on fire, and the entire bar was soon engulfed in flames, the agency said, citing a city government spokesman.
Xinhua said fire engines arrived immediately and the blaze was put out after about 30 minutes.
Fifteen were found dead, apparently suffocated, while 20 others were injured, the agency said, after earlier putting the number of wounded at 17.
"Three of the injured are still in critical condition and the other 17 are out of danger after overnight treatment," the city government spokesman said.
On its website, Xinhua posted a photo of the blackened and gutted interior of the bar after the fire.
The tragedy in China's Fujian province took place towards the end of the Lunar New Year, which the Chinese traditionally celebrate with fireworks and firecrackers.
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