Girls fall to death in China fire

Four students at a Shanghai business school have died after falling from a sixth-floor balcony as they tried to escape a fire in their dormitory room.

The college students - all girls - appear to have panicked after flames and thick smoke engulfed the room in the early morning blaze.

All were confirmed dead at the scene, China's state news agency Xinhua said.

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze, but press reports pointed to an electric kettle used by the girls.

Police said the fire broke out at the school at 0612 (2212 GMT on Thursday) and was put out three hours later.

No other injuries were reported and the fire did not spread to any other rooms.

A witness told the local papers that the girls were seen rushing out onto their balcony, some 15m high, as black smoke billowed from the room.

They then climbed over a railing and clung on for a few minutes, screaming for help, before losing their grip and falling onto the concrete below.

The school, located in downtown Shanghai, has more than 10,000 students.

Public safety officials have scheduled an emergency meeting with college staff.