BEIJING (Reuters) - A fire broke out on Thursday (Aug 17) at a refinery owned by state oil major PetroChina in Dalian, in north-east China's Liaoning Province, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The fire started around 6.40pm, it said. Huge flames and billowing smoke were seen at the spot.

No casualties have been reported so far, Xinhua said.

The fire was brought under control and local government officials were at the site as an investigation began into the cause of the inferno, state radio reported on its social media blog about two hours after the incident started.

Petrochina was not available to comment.