A fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan has resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, according to local reports.
The incident occurred at the Pingtung County hospital around 9:40 AM local time (01:00 GMT), coinciding with Typhoon Krathon making landfall in the nearby Kaohsiung area.
The adverse weather conditions, characterized by wet and windy conditions, hindered firefighting efforts, as noted by one report.
Officials confirmed that the blaze was extinguished over three hours later, and the exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Preliminary reports suggest that it may have been triggered by an electrical fault.
Images captured during the incident revealed thick grey smoke billowing from one of the hospital buildings as the fire raged on.
Approximately 300 patients were evacuated, with some seeking refuge in a nearby commercial establishment.
Firefighters were assisted in their efforts by soldiers from a nearby military base.
Source-BBC
