A major fire broke out at a 27-storey residential building, killing five people in northern China.

Video filmed in the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province on December 1 shows black smoke rising into the air from a 27-storey residential building.

According to the residents, the fire emerged from the bottom of the building and spread to the top of it.

Eighteen fire engines and 76 firefighters were deployed to the site.

The fire has been put out and eight people trapped in the building were rescued.

However, five people of them died after ineffective treatment and the other three are in stable life signs.

The cause is being investigated by local authorities.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

12月1日13时许，陕西西安，未央区凤鸣华府小区一高层住宅楼发生火灾。据小区居民称，火从楼底开始着起，很快蔓延到楼上，有住户站窗外等待救援。西安消防通报称，13时21分接警后，调派18车76人赶赴现场处置。经查，该小区6号楼一楼大厅过道杂物着火，现场浓烟较大，并顺着楼道蔓延至楼上。起火的6号楼高27层，每层3梯9户。13时50分，现场明火被扑灭，随后消防队员逐层逐户排查疏散人员，营救被困人员8人。其中5人抢救无效死亡，另外3人生命体征平稳。初步估计过火面积约25平方米，起火原因正在调查之中。
西安市消防支队透露，火灾中最为致命的头号杀手是浓烟。据统计，火灾中被浓烟熏呛致死的人数是烧死者的4至5倍，浓烟致人死亡的主要原因是一氧化碳中毒。在一氧化碳浓度1.3%的空气中，人吸上两三口烟气就会失去知觉，13分钟就会导致死亡。而常用的建筑材料燃烧时所产生的烟气中，一氧化碳的含量高达2.5%。