MEXICO CITY, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Five children were killed Tuesday in a city northeast of Mexico City when their home caught fire early in the morning, local authorities said.

    The fire began at around 2:30 a.m. local time (0830 GMT) and swiftly engulfed the home in Ecatepec in Mexico State. The home was made of cardboard and wood, the state attorney's office said.

    The fire might have been caused by candles which were left burning when the children fell asleep, it said.

    At the time of the fire the children, who were aged 12, nine, six, four and one, were being looked after by their 25-year-old uncle. He was taken to hospital with serious burn injuries. The children's parents had left the uncle in charge while they were working at a roast chicken store.

    Ecatepec was suffering a power cut at the time and many residents were using candles.