Fire in Pakistan slum kills 39

Karachi: A fire that swept through a slum in Pakistan's city of Karachi on Friday killed 39 people, including 20 children, officials said.

The fire quickly engulfed about 40 huts erected on a vacant piece of land surrounded by a wall in a congested city neighbourhood.

Provincial Health Minister Sageer Ahmed said the blaze was believed to have been started by a fire some residents had lit outside a hut to keep warm on a chilly night.