Mainland ready to help injured of Taiwan water park blaze

The Chinese mainland's top Taiwan affairs official said the mainland was ready to provide medical assistance for those injured in a water park blaze in Taiwan.

Negotiations on the matter are ongoing, Zhang Zhijun, the head of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters on Wednesday night in Tianjin, north China.

Zhang said that following negotiations, it is hoped medical assistance can reach Taiwan as soon as possible.

A fire broke out at a water park in Taiwan Saturday night at a party. A large amount of theatrical colored powder, ejected from the stage, ignited before landing on the audience.

Nearly 500 people were injured in the blaze. Two died in hospital.

A Hong Kong woman has been transferred to Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. The woman's parents, who live in Shanghai, applied for help to transfer her to the eastern city for treatment.

The 18-year-old sustained 37 percent burns.