HOHHOT, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Four people were confirmed dead in a laundry fire early on Monday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local fire brigade said.

    Fire engulfed the laundry on the first floor of an apartment building on Heping Road in Donghe District of Baotou at around 1 a.m.. It was put out at 2:50 a.m., a fire brigade spokesman said.

    He said the dead included the female laundry owner, her mother, younger sister and daughter.

    Some residents said they heard explosions in the shop.

    The fire burned out the 30-square-meter shop and all its facilities, but did little damage to neighboring units.

    The cause of the fire was under investigation.