Firefighters join the rescue operation after a hotel fire in Northeast China's Jilin Province March 18, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

CHANGCHUN, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Five people were confirmed dead and two others injured in a hotel fire in Northeast China's Jilin Province Saturday evening, the local government said early on Sunday.

    Fire broke out at around 7:40 p.m. in the Xinqiao Hotel in Yanji, a city in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Yanbian, a source of the city government told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    He said more than 40 guests had checked in at the hotel, most of whom were out when the fire broke out. "Those who were in tried to escape the fire in panic," he said without giving further details.

    

(Xinhua photo)

Twenty-six fire engines and 136 firemen joined the subsequent rescue operation. The fire had destroyed the entire seven-story hotel building when the flames were finally put out in the small hours on Sunday, the official said.

    He said firemen were still searching the burned hotel rooms oneby one for possible casualties early on Sunday, and local police are seeing into the cause of the fire. Enditem