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An investigation in underway into the cause of a fire at a hospital in
Pingtung that left nine people dead.

Eight of the dead were bedridden, elderly patients, while the ninth was a
hospital employee.

The fire broke out on the lower floors of Block D of the Antai Tian-Sheng
Memorial Hospital in Dong-Gang Township Thursday morning.

Firefighters managed to put it by 1PM but say the blaze quickly spread to the
third and fourth floors where a large amount of medical equipment was stored,
making their rescue mission more difficult.

The Pingtung County Government says a total of 324 patients who were staying
in Block D were rescued and transferred to other hospitals.

Authorities say although they have yet to determine the exact cause of the
fire, it's believed to started in a second-floor machine room.

Officials say the room housed electrical appliances and high-voltage power
lines.

The Pingtung District Prosecutors' Office has also launched an investigation
into the cause of the incident.