At least 9 dead, 35 injured in fire during carnival celebration in Germany

(CNN) - A fire gutted a southwest Germany apartment building Sunday while revelers were celebrating carnival Sunday. At least nine people died in the blaze, authorities told CNN.

A fire official in Ludwigshafen (pronounced 'Ludvigs-HA-ffen') said at least 60 others were injured in the blaze. Twenty-four of them remained hospitalized Monday, he said. The rest of the wounded have been treated and released.

The carnival tradition stems from the Catholic regions in the west and south of Germany. Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Brazil, it's a time when residents dress up and take to the streets in celebration.

The fire broke out about 4:23 p.m. (11:23 a.m.) in a four-story apartment building, the city police said in a statement.

Ludwigshafen is a port city on the west bank of the Rhine River. It is noted for its large chemical industry and is a gateway to the wine-growing region of the Rhine.