SHIJIAZHUANG/BEIJING - A fire at a nursing home in North China's Hebei province has left 20 people dead, local authorities said Wednesday.

A total of 39 elderly residents were residing in the building when the blaze broke out around 9 pm on Tuesday in Longhua county, Chengde city.

The fire was extinguished by around 11 pm. A total of 20 people were confirmed dead as of 3 am Wednesday, while 19 others were sent to hospital for examination.

The Work Safety Commission under China's State Council has called for an urgent investigation into the fire. 

In a statement, the commission called on local authorities to determine the causes of the incident as soon as possible, and seriously propose handling as well as rectification measures concerning the incident, based on the findings.

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The incident's investigation report will be publicized after it is reviewed and adopted by the commission, it added.

The person in charge of the nursing home has been detained by police.