A devastating fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan has killed at least nine people as Typhoon Krathon batters the region with torrential rain and powerful winds.
The fire broke out on Thursday in Pingtung County, an area hit hard by the slow-moving storm, according to local officials.
The victims died from smoke inhalation as the fire spread through the hospital. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but emergency response teams, including soldiers from a nearby military base, were quickly mobilized to assist.
Firefighters and medical workers evacuated 176 patients, who were moved to the hospital's front entrance and transferred to ambulances or covered with tarps to shield them from the relentless downpour. The patients were then transported to nearby shelters as efforts to extinguish the fire continued.
Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Kaohsiung, Taiwan's major port city, bringing sustained winds of 126 kph (78 mph), with even stronger gusts, according to Taiwan's weather authorities. The typhoon has been moving across the island for the past five days, primarily impacting the eastern and southern regions.
The storm has forced thousands of residents to evacuate from both mountainous and low-lying areas, where flash flooding and landslides are a constant threat. Taiwan's weather administration urged residents of Kaohsiung and Pingtung County to remain indoors as the eye of the storm passed over their areas.
In addition to the fire, the typhoon has caused significant disruption across multiple sectors. Industries ranging from fishing to chemicals have reported damage, and transportation routes, as well as electrical networks, have been severely impacted. The full extent of the economic damage is still being assessed, but the storm's slow pace and relentless downpour have made recovery efforts challenging.
Emergency shelters have been set up across the affected regions to accommodate evacuees. Local authorities are urging caution as aftereffects of the typhoon, including additional flooding and strong winds, continue to pose significant dangers.
Taiwan has made substantial efforts in recent years to fireproof public facilities, including banning smoking and strengthening building regulations. However, the hospital fire is a stark reminder of the risks that still exist, particularly when combined with natural disasters like Typhoon Krathon.
As Taiwan continues to brace for the effects of the storm, rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing. The government has pledged to provide assistance to the affected communities, while investigations into the cause of the hospital fire are expected to continue in the coming days.
The typhoon has left parts of Taiwan at a standstill, and with ongoing flooding, the full toll of the disaster remains unclear.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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