Fire in 13-Story Residential-Commercial Building in Taiwan Kills 17, Injures 62

Authorities Investigate Cause, Considering Possibility of Arson

In the early morning of the 14th, a fire in a 13-story building in Yancheng District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, resulted in 17 deaths and 62 injuries. / AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] A fire in a mixed-use residential and commercial building in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has resulted in 17 deaths and 62 injuries.

According to Taiwan Central News Agency and Liberty Times on the 14th, the fire broke out around 2:54 a.m. local time at the Qingchungcheng Building, a 13-story mixed-use building located in Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City.

The 40-year-old building has two basement levels and 13 floors above ground. The basement and floors 1 to 5 above ground were closed off. Approximately 120 households were known to reside on floors 7 to 11.

Kaohsiung fire authorities deployed 75 fire trucks and 159 firefighters, extinguishing the fire around 7:17 a.m.

Liberty Times reported that, according to the fire department’s announcement at 1:30 p.m., 17 people died and 62 were transported to hospitals due to the fire.

A witness living on the opposite side of the building said they heard "tak tak" explosion sounds and went down to check, witnessing the fire rapidly spreading across the entire first floor where the fire started. Another nearby resident stated that after seeing smoke rising followed by flames erupting instantly, they suspected a gas explosion and urgently reported it.

Earlier, authorities suspected arson based on the fact that when they arrived, flames were fiercely rising from a pile of items stacked on the first floor.

Accordingly, the police are currently investigating four individuals related to the incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.