SINGAPORE, March 19 (Xinhua) -- One person died after a fire broke out early Thursday in a residential building in northern Singapore, the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) said.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene inside a 14th-floor unit, the SCDF said.

Another person from the affected unit, who had evacuated before the SCDF arrived, was assessed for smoke inhalation and taken to a hospital. Two others from the block were also assessed for smoke inhalation but declined hospital transport.

About 70 people were evacuated as a precaution.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze using two water jets. The cause of the fire is under investigation, the SCDF said. ■