ASTANA, March 30 (RIA Novosti) - Twenty-seven people, including 14 children, have been hospitalized after inhaling combustion products in an apartment building fire in Kazakhstan's capital, the republic's emergencies ministry said on Sunday.

The fire broke out in a 23-storey apartment building early on Sunday after an electric cable went ablaze. A total of 126 people have been evacuated. Six people, including two children, are in an intensive care unit, the emergencies ministry said.

The fire was extinguished in an hour and a half. A total of 43 people have sought medical help, the ministry said.