Nine people have been killed in a fire at an apartment block in the US state of Mississippi, say officials.

美国密西西比州一座公寓楼发生大火，9人丧生。

At least six children were among the dead, state fire marshal消防局长 Mike Chaney told the Associated Press news agency.

The blaze火焰，烈火 was reported to have broken out before dawn at the building in Starkville, Oktibbeha County.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, in a two-storey block containing eight apartments, not far from Mississippi State University.

The deaths were confirmed by County郡，县 Coroner验尸官 Michael Hunt.

Fire chief Rodger Mann said it would take time to establish more information about the fire and its victims.

"When a fatality死亡，不幸 is involved, things move a lot slower," he said.

An eyewitness² told the Commercial Dispatch newspaper that children aged³ four and three as well as a young baby were feared dead.

Resident were reported to have been kept out of the building for several hours.