A Sunday noon fire at a five-floor commercial building has killed at least 51 people and injured another 71 in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, according to local police.

Police said that the fire occurred at 11:20 am at the second floor of the building and has been put out.

The building is located at a downtown crossroad linking two major streets.

The first and second floors of the building were for shopping, the third for bathing services, the fourth for billiard game and the fifth a disco.

The police sent 260 firefighters and 50 fire engines to extinguish the fire.

Those injured have been treated in local hospitals.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2004)