Hualien city: One man was killed and three others were injured in a fire that broke out in a three-story apartment building in Hualien City late Tuesday, according to the Hualien County Fire Bureau. Firefighters reported that four tenants were removed from the building, which consists entirely of rental units on Guofu 9th Street.
According to Focus Taiwan, the deceased was a 69-year-old man surnamed Yao, who lived on the second floor. He suffered severe smoke inhalation and was found in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest before being rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The three other victims survived the incident. A 48-year-old man surnamed Wu, also a second-floor resident, was taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation and later regained vital signs.
Additionally, a 72-year-old man surnamed Chu, who resided on the first floor, was hospitalized with smoke inhalation. A 70-year-old woman surnamed Chen sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalization. When emergency crews arrived shortly after 9 p.m., flames were visible coming from a second-floor window. Residents informed firefighters that the blaze originated in Yao's room, which was fully engulfed when rescuers entered the premises.
The building's owner, surnamed Lin, noted that the property has 12 rooms and is primarily rented to elderly tenants, including individuals who require regular hospital visits and their caregivers, due to its proximity to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The Hualien County Fire Bureau stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.