One person was killed and 17 others injured, including two seriously injured, in a fire that engulfed a workshop in southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on Wednesday, local authorities said on Thursday.

The blaze started at about 7:20 PM on Wednesday at a spray-painting workshop of an electronic company based in the Longgang District of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, local fire-fighting authorities said.

The fire spread more than 200 square meters and dozens of workers were evacuated, rescuers said.

The injured people have been rushed to hospital and the fire was quenched about an hour later.

Initial investigations show that the accident was caused by improper operation of workers.

The accident is being further investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2007)