Welding sparks blamed for fire at China chemical wholesaler that killed 38

Rescuers use a bulldozer to knock down a wall during a fire at an industrial wholesaler in Anyang in central China’s Henan province (CCTV/AP)

Investigators said sparks from welding work appears to have been the cause of a fire that killed 38 people at a company dealing in chemicals and other industrial goods in central China’s Henan province.

Two other people were injured in the blaze that tore through the building in the city of Anyang from about 4.30pm on Monday.