16 die as Burma warehouse blaze spreads

The fire started in a state-owned warehouse before dawn today (Reuters)

A warehouse fire that spread to neighbouring houses has killed at least 16 people and injured more than 79 in Rangoon, Burmese officials said.

The fire started in a state-owned warehouse before dawn today and quickly spread to homes and buildings, many of them wooden.

A hospital official said the dead includes at least one firefighter who was killed by an explosion at the warehouse when they were putting out the fire.

Firefighters continue to search for bodies.

It is not immediately clear what caused the fire.