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Journalism of Courage
BEIJING, DEC 27: Fire engulfed a hotel bath house in northeast China on Sunday after a late night Christmas party, killing 20 people and injuring at least 51, newspapers reported today.
Firefighters saved 150 people, including seven Japanese, from the Hawaii Grand Hotel in Changchun, capital of northeastern province of Jilin, the Changchun Evening News said.
City fire officials had concluded a fire safety inspection of the bath house in the basement of the hotel less than two hours before the fire broke out, the newspaper said.
Guests hung bedsheets from broken windows trying to escape the black smoke that filled the hotel, it said.
Investigators said the victims died from smoke inhalation.
