Beijing, Apr 19 (UNI) Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead following a hospital fire in Beijing's Fengtai District, according to the district's fire and rescue department.

Firefighters received a report of a fire at an inpatient department building of Beijing Changfeng Hospital at 12:57 p.m.

The fire was extinguished at 1:33 p.m., with 71 patients evacuated.

By 6 p.m., 21 people had been confirmed dead.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.