A hospital fire in southern Taiwan has killed 12 people and injured 60 more, according to health authorities on October 23, 2012. The blaze had started on Tuesday in the early hours and tore through the hospital quickly. The department where the fire started contained mostly senior patients who were bedridden, and even though more than 100 people were evacuated there were injuries and casualties.
The Tainam city blaze claimed 12 lives, all of which were believed to be the result of smoke inhalation, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. According to a health official, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and is under investigation. This has been the worst hospital fire for the country in recent years.
According to a fire official, the fire could have originated in a storage room of the Sinying Hospital. The room is located on the second floor of the five-floor hospital. News reports stated that relatives of patients were seen rushing towards the hospital as footage of the burnt second floor was being flashed on TV screens. Wheelchair-bound patients were also seen being evacuated from the building.
The health minister Chiu Wen-ta assured people that their relatives will be identified as soon as possible, while Premier Sean Chen was shocked at the incident and send his condolences to the families of the victims.
