Beijing:
A city in northeastern China says a fire at a nursing home has killed 10 elderly residents.
The Hailun city government said the blaze started early Thursday in the home's hospice wing and the cause was under investigation. The official Xinhua News Agency said arson was suspected, but its report gave no details.
The city government's online statement said 32 seniors were registered in the hospice wing. It said the 283 seniors who live in the home are mostly retired farmers.
Hailun is in Heilongjiang province about 650 kilometers northeast of Beijing. The area is one of China's main grain-producing regions.
With a rapidly aging population and under-resourced social security net, China faces increasing pressure to provide safe and affordable elder care.