BEIJING - A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday expressed condolences to the families of the victims after a hospital fire killed nine people in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan.

"We offer our condolences for the loss of lives, and extend our sympathy to their families and all the injured," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

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Speaking to the media earlier, Su Ching-chyuan, the hospital's honorary dean, said that the fire was caused by the combustion of an air compressor in a machine room, adding that most of the victims were elderly hospitalized patients.