Probe underway after 13 die in Shanxi scenie site fire

Fire takes 13 lives at vacation resort at Taitaishan scenic site in Yingze district of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi, on Oct 1, 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A scenic site in North China's Shanxi province has been closed and its administrators are under investigation by police after a fire at the site killed 13 people on the first day of the eight-day National Day holiday, local authorities said on Friday.

The fire engulfed an exhibition hall featuring snow sculptures at about 1 pm on Thursday at Taitaishan scenic site in Yingze district of Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi, according to the provincial government's information office.

Another 15 people were injured and have been sent to hospitals, where they remain in stable condition, the office said.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.