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.
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