18 killed in fire accident in China food factory

At least 18 people were killed when a carrot-packaging plant caught fire in China's eastern Shandong Province, local officials said today.

The fire broke out at 7:00 p.m. last night at the carrot packaging workshop of Longyuan Food Co., Ltd in Shouguang City, a town known for its green vegetables.

The fire was put out after about two-and-a-half hours, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Apart from the dead,13 others have been injured. The injured are being treated in hospital.

The managers of the company have been put "under police control", according to Xinhua. The cause of the fire is under investigation.