A hospital fire in southern Taiwan, which broke out after rain and winds from an intensified typhoon, killed nine people.
Local media reported that the fire broke out in an electrical distribution room at the Pingtung County facility shortly after 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
The flames were extinguished about three hours later. But eight patients at the hospital and one employee died. Nearly 100 other patients were transferred to other hospitals for treatment. According to media reports, most of the dead patients could not be evacuated quickly because they were in bed.
Footage shows smoke billowing from a building and several patients taking shelter near the hospital’s entrance during heavy rain.
A power company said the hospital’s power supply was operating normally when the fire broke out due to bad weather caused by Typhoon Krathon.
Police and firefighters are working to determine the cause of the fire.
