THE death toll from a fire at a plant in Central China has risen to 38, authorities said yesterday.

The fire broke out at 4:22 p.m. Monday at the plant of a commerce and trade company in Wenfeng District of Anyang City, Henan Province, according to the city’s publicity department.

Two people who sustained minor injuries have been sent to hospital.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has been directing the rescue efforts. Wang Xiangxi, minister of emergency management, led a work team to the fire scene yesterday morning.

Local authorities sent a total of 240 people and 63 vehicles to join the rescue effort and the fire was put out by midnight.

The company mainly manufactures clothes. It was initially determined that sparks during welding operations caused the fire, igniting cotton fabric in the factory, said the municipal emergency management department. (Xinhua)