China Orphanage Blaze Kills Seven Children

A fire at a shelter for orphans and abandoned youngsters in central China has killed at least seven children.

The blaze broke out on Friday morning at the refuge being run privately from a woman's home in Lankao county of Henan province, according to the official website China.org.cn.

Police at the site say many children have been hurt, though no specific number was available.

The Xinhua news agency said that four of the children died in the fire, while three died from their injuries on the way to hospital.

Reports say the woman who owned the home, Yuan Lihai, had for years been a street vendor in Lankao when she became locally known for sheltering abandoned children.

She is said to have taken in more than 100 children over the past 20 years.