GUANGZHOU - Nine people, including three children, have been confirmed dead in a fire that broke out in South China's Guangdong province early Friday morning, the local fire department said.

The fire engulfed an automobile repair and detailing shop in Nanhai district, Foshan city, at 5:26 am, said Zhao Sishun, an officer with the fire department of the district.

The one-story building, which covers 96 square meters, was both the shop and the victims' residence, Zhao said.

The fire was put out at 6:10 am, following firefighters' rescue efforts. They retrieved one body in the shop and eight others on an interlayer within the building.

The shop was illegally operated as a combination of workplace, business operations site and residence, Zhao added.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.