3-10-2024 (TAIPEI) A devastating fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan has claimed at least nine lives as Typhoon Krathon wreaked havoc across the island on Thursday. The tragic incident unfolded in Pingtung county, one of the areas most severely affected by the powerful storm that made landfall in the afternoon, bringing torrential rains and gale-force winds that have paralysed parts of the country.
Authorities report that the victims succumbed to smoke inhalation, while the origin of the blaze remains under investigation. The disaster was compounded by the challenging weather conditions, with emergency services battling both fire and flood to rescue patients.
In a display of rapid response and coordination, soldiers from a nearby military base were swiftly mobilised to assist medical staff and firefighters in the evacuation effort. Reports indicate that 176 patients were urgently moved to the hospital’s front entrance, where they were transferred to awaiting ambulances or sheltered under tarpaulins to shield them from the relentless downpour. The evacuees were subsequently relocated to nearby shelters, highlighting the complex logistics of emergency operations during severe weather events.
Typhoon Krathon made its presence felt as it struck the major port city of Kaohsiung, unleashing winds of 126 kilometres per hour (78 mph), with even stronger gusts recorded by Taiwan’s meteorological authorities. The slow-moving nature of the storm has resulted in a prolonged period of extreme weather, with eastern and southern regions of Taiwan enduring five days of continuous rainfall.
