China hospital fire kills 39

Thousands of neighbours watched helplessly as patients jumped from windows on the third and fourth floors of the hospital after rescuers tried but failed to reach them, the official Xinhua News Agency said Friday.

The fire broke out Thursday at the largest hospital in Liaoyuan, about 75 miles southwest of Changchun, the capital of Jilin province, witnesses said.

An initial investigation showed the fire started in a power distribution room, according to Xinhua.

The remains of 24 people were found at the scene and 15 others died after being transferred to other hospitals, Xinhua said.