At least 20 killed in nightclub inferno

At least 20 people have died in a fire that destroyed a popular nightclub in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province.

The blaze started last night and gutted four floors of a large karaoke bar in the provincial capital of Palembang, Capt Arum Prioyono of the local police said.

Palembang is an industrial city about 250 miles north west of Jakarta.

Several of the victims died after jumping from windows on the upper floors to escape the flames, Prioyono said.

He said investigators believed the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Rescuers blasted through the wall of the club to allow dozens of people trapped inside to escape from the burning building.

Firefighters extinguished the fire today, Prioyono said, adding that they expected to discover more bodies after searching through the building.

Operators of karaoke bars, cinemas, Internet cafes and other entertainment businesses in Indonesia frequently ignore fire safety rules or fail to provide emergency exits on the premises.