Fire engulfs ethnic village in SW China

A woman sits on the remains of a house destroyed by a fire in an ethnic village in Jianhe county, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Dec 13. More than 60 properties were engulfed by the blaze, affecting 619 residents but no casualties have been reported. Jiuji village, one of the biggest and best preserved villages of the Miao ethnic minority, was selected by China as a UNESCO World Heritage site nominee in 2006. [Photo/IC]

GUIYANG - A fire engulfed an ethnic village in Southwest China's Guizhou province Friday afternoon, with more than 60 houses destroyed, local authorities said Saturday.

The fire broke out at around 3:40 pm in Jiuji village, Jianhe county, affecting 619 residents, according to the county government. It was extinguished at 6 pm, with no casualties reported.

Jiuji is one of the biggest and best preserved villages of the Miao ethnic minority. It was selected by China as a UNESCO World Heritage site nominee in 2006.

An investigation is under way.