By Matthew Bossons

Liu Chunlu, the man suspected of being behind this morning’s deadly arson in Qingyuan, Guangdong, has been apprehended after a brief manhunt. 

According to numerous media reports, the blaze engulfed a three-story KTV parlor and resulted in the deaths of 18 people. Five others were injured and transported to a nearby hospital to receive medical attention. 

According to a report by GRT Radio, police received word of the fire at approximately 12.30am. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze by 12.55am.

Authorities were quickly able to identify Liu Chunlu as a suspect in the fatal inferno and the Qingyuan Public Security Bureau quickly announced a reward of RMB200,000 for his arrest. Within an hour of announcing the monetary incentive, Liu was captured. The GRT Radio report states that Liu “sustained burns to his buttocks” while setting the building ablaze. 

The fire occurred in Yingde, a mountain town that's part of the prefecture-level city of Qingyuan. The area is popular with weekenders from Guangzhou for its karst landscapes and natural hot springs.

[Cover image via Sina h/t GRT Radio] 

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