At least 17 people were killed when fire gutted a wholesale market in southern China Thursday.

Nine others were injured, including one firefighter who responded to the scene.  Five people were taken out safely.

Rescuers scrambled throughout the night in search for people feared trapped in the building. 

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It is still uncertain how many people were inside the building when the fire broke out.

Officials say the fire began Thursday afternoon, on the fourth floor of a market in southern Guangdong province.  Communist Party's propaganda department in Huidong County said about 200 firefighters rushed to the scene and were able to control the blaze after more than six hours.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is still unknown.  But state media CCTV reported the fire started in a movie theater located on the fourth floor, where decorative materials were flammable. 

A footage showed an excavator dismantling one wall of the building to allow trapped people to escape, Reuters news reported.

Nine managers of the mall are now in police custody for further questioning.

China has had a long history of workplace disasters as well as poor record on worker safety.

In November 2014, fire gutted a vegetable processing plant in eastern China killing at least 18 people.

In June 2013, more than a hundred people died when a poultry processing plant burned down. Most exits were said to be blocked, which led to panic and people getting crushed.

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