Death toll rises to 16 from department store fire in SW China

The death toll from the department store fire in Zigong City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, has risen to 16 as of around 3 a.m. on Thursday, according to the local fire and rescue headquarters.

The fire in the 14-story building, located in a high-tech zone in the city, was reported at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and there was a significant amount of thick smoke at the scene. 

Rescue operation has now completed. 

Preliminary information indicated the fire was caused by construction work and the specific situation is still under probe. 

In the wake of the accident, China's Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Fire and Rescue Administration have also dispatched working team and experts to Sichuan for investigation.