A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire and blocking the only exit.
A fire at a karaoke bar in the southern Chinese city of Yingde has killed 18 people and left five others injured.
The fire broke out inside the three-storey building in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Police have arrested a 32-year-old man for suspected arson. Reports allege he blocked the bar’s only exit with a motorbike before starting the fire.
Video circulating on social media showed bystanders watching as intense flames engulfed the bar.
Police were first alerted to the fire at 00:30 local time on Tuesday (16:30 GMT Monday). It was extinguished by 00:55, according to a statement by Qingyuan police on micro-blogging site Weibo.
