SINGAPORE - Three people were killed after a fire broke out early Saturday morning at a shophouse in Geylang Lorong 4.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were called about the incident at 1.40am, SCDF said in a statement released later in the day.

Black smoke was reportedly billowing from the shophouse unit. Firefighters put out the blaze within 30 minutes.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene. Another nine were sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Singapore General Hospital. They included two firefighters, who sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The New Paper reported that the occupants of the shophouse were workers from China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia.