Thirty-nine of the 43 people killed in the south China nightclub fire have been identified, said local police on Monday.

The ruins of the "King of the Dancers" club in Longgang District after the fire at night last weekend. [Photo: photobase.cn]

The victims include five people from Hong Kong, ten natives of Guangdong, and others from provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Guangxi, Henan, Hunan, Fujian, Gansu, Jilin, Chongqing and Jiangxi.

The fire broke out at about 10:49 p.m. at the "King of the Dancers" club in Longgang District of Shenzhen.

More than 300 people were watching a performance when fireworks, used during the performance, ignited flammable material in the ceiling.

The fire then spread quickly across 150 square meters, district head Zhang Bei said.

As of Sunday morning, 59 of the injured, including four in critical condition, were being treated in a hospital. Six others were under medical observation.

Police have detained two more people in connection with the tragedy on Monday, in addition to the 13 on Sunday. They are 43-year-old Zhang Wei, shareholder of the nightclub, and 30-year-old Wang Shuaiwen, fireworks performer.

Further investigation is under way.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2008)