Taiwan:Fire leaves 46 dead, dozens injured

In Taiwan, at least 46 people were killed and injured dozens of people, after a fire engulfed a residential building overnight on Thursday. The 13-story building caught on fire around 3 am, fire department officials in the city of Kaohsiung. Officials said 55 people had been taken to the hospital, including 14 people who showed no signs of life. In Taiwan, official confirmation of a death can only be made in the hospital. Firefighters were conducting search and rescue efforts into the afternoon.

The blaze was “extremely fierce,” and destroyed many floors of the building, according to a statement from the fire department. Firefighters are unsure of the source of the fire, but noted flames burned most intensely where a lot of clutter had been pilFire Chief Li Ching-hsiu told reporters at the scene. Another 14 people who showed no signs of life were among 55 taken to the hospital. Fire Chief Li Ching-hsiu told reporters at the scene. Another 14 people who showed no signs of life were among 55 taken to the hospital. In Taiwan.

The cause of the fire was unclear, but firefighters noted the flames burned most intensely where a lot of clutter had been piled up, the fire department statement said. Eyewitnesses told Taiwan media that they heard an explosion around 3 am.The building is about 40 years old with shops on the lower levels and apartments above. The lower floors were completely blackened.