At least 29 people were killed in a fire at a hospital in Beijing and survivors were forced to jump out of windows to escape, Chinese officials said.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: According to Chinese media reports, San Haitano from Beijing Public Security Bureau said that 12 people, including the hospital manager, have been arrested in connection with the fire. He added that representatives of the company that is renovating this hospital center are also among those arrested.
 
Zhao Yang from the Beijing Fire Department said: "The preliminary investigation shows that the fire was caused by sparks created during the internal renovation and construction of the inpatient department of the hospital." He said the sparks ignited volatile components of flammable paint at the site.
 
According to AFP, the deputy mayor of China's Fengtai region announced "deep condolences" over the incident and said that the fire, which was the deadliest in Beijing in more than two decades, killed 16 women and 13 men.
 
Chinese state television reported that among the dead were 26 patients, two hospital employees and one family member of a patient.
 
The fire that occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Changfeng Hospital in the capital of China injured dozens of people.