Zhao Zhenqi, secretary of Liaoyuan City committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in northeast China's Jilin Province, made an apology on Saturday to local people for the hospital fire accident that occurred Thursday afternoon.

"As a principal leader in the city, I felt deep regret for the fatal hospital fire. I failed to exert myself to the utmost, I apologize to all people in the city for the accident," he said.

"The city should learn lessons from the accident and launch a campaign to check up hidden danger in all enterprises and departments such as coal mines and hospitals," he added.

The mishap took place around 4:30 PM Thursday at the Liaoyuan Central Hospital, the largest hospital in the city, about 120 kilometers southwest of Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, leaving 39 people dead so far.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2005)