At least 22 people died and three others were injured after a fire broke out at a restaurant in China's Liaoyang city on Tuesday.

The operator of the establishment has been detained.

Twenty-two fire trucks and 85 firefighters rushed to the scene after the blaze was first reported around 12:25 p.m.

The firefighters swiftly extinguished the flames after reaching the scene and conducted search-and-rescue operations there.

The work safety authority under China's State Council called for an urgent investigation into the incident, seeking to speedily determine the causes of the fire, reported Xinhua news agency.

A working group from the Ministry of Emergency Management also reached the affected area to guide investigation efforts.

Local media did not disclose the cause of the fire so far.