A picture taken on November 24, 2017 shows a general view of the Leogrand hotel in Georgia's Black Sea resort city of Batumi. (AFP PHOTO)

TBILISI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people were killed and dozens injured during a sudden fire at a hotel in Batumi, the second largest city in Georgia located in the southwest, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said early Saturday.

The fire broke out at the Leogrand Hotel & Casino in the seaside city late Friday night. Eyewitnesses said the blaze flared up in the hotel's spa center.

Hundreds of people, including guests and local staff, were evacuated as 13 fire tenders and over 100 firefighters fought the flames.

An investigation has been started into the cause of the fire.