BEIJING?- A fire in a lingerie factory in southern China on Wednesday killed?at least 11?people, authorities said.

Guangdong province's emergency management department said the fire happened in the early afternoon in a town in Puning county and covered an area of 208 square meters (2,240 square feet).

Eleven people were suffocated to death in the workshop, which mainly manufactures underwear. Another 15 were injured, and 17 managed to escape from the blaze, which was put out at 1:54 pm, said the office.

Most of the victims are women in their 20s,?Beijing News said in its official micro blog.?

The department said in a statement on its microblog that the cause was being investigated.