The death toll in building fire in Taiwan up to 46 with fears of more casualties as firefighters continue to rescue people trapped inside the 13-storey building, the island’s official news agency reported Thursday.
At least 86 people have been rescued from the fire incident site while 42 others have sustained injuries in southern Kaohsiung city, according to Central News Agency.
Breaking News: At least 46 people died in a building fire in Taiwan. The structure housed low-income and older residents, and had deteriorated in recent years. https://t.co/TzfutHCeBu
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 14, 2021
The local fire bureau received reports of the fire engulfing the 13-story commercial and residential building on Fubei Road in the city's Yancheng district at 2.54 a.m. (1854GMT Wednesday).
The fire is said to have started from the first floor of the building which houses 120 residential units between the seventh and 11th floors.
Around 160 firefighters rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire which was put out at around 7.17 a.m. local time (2317GMT Wednesday).
Lee Ching-hsiu, local fire bureau chief, said the number of casualties “could increase as more may be trapped in the residential part of the building.”
At least 46 people killed and dozens more seriously injured in fire at 13-storey tower block in southern Taiwan, officials say https://t.co/WiR6DCUTxz
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 14, 2021
“Firefighters are still combing the 40-year-old Cheng Chung Cheng building for survivors and are still investigating the cause of the blaze,” Lee said.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
