GUANGZHOU - Eight people were killed and three more were injured as a fire engulfed a three-story residential building in South China's Guangdong province Monday, fire fighters said.

Local fire brigade received a call at about 4:18 am saying a fire broke out in a house in Humen township of Dongguan city.

Twenty-four fire fighters with six fire engines arrived at the scene at about 4:23 am and the fire was put out about 45 minutes later.

Eight people, including three males and five females, were found dead at the scene.

Three more injured, who were rescued by fire fighters, were in stable condition.

The fire burned out nearly half of the total floor area of 420 square meters.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and the dead are to be identified.