TAIPEH: At least five people died after a fire swept through a prominent karaoke bar in Taipei on Sunday, local media reported.
A further two people were in a critical condition, according to Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency (CNA). Fifty-four people had been taken to hospital in total.
The fire began in the fifth floor of the Cash Box KTV club in Taipei before 11am and was extinguished at about 11.30am, CNA reported.
Local television channels showed huge amounts of smoke pouring out of the 14-storey entertainment venue, situated in one of the main nightlife areas in central Taipei's Chung Shan District.
More than 200 customers were in the lower nine floors of the building.
Many had to be rescued by ladder after fleeing up to the higher storeys. The cause of the blaze was unclear.
The building had reportedly undergone a fire inspection in March, but several customers told local television media that no fire alarms had sounded and that construction work was being carried out in the club at the time of the incident.
Taipei Fire Department Detachment chief Wang Cheng-hsiung said that five fire emergency doors were found locked, CNA reported.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, clubs and restaurants are allowed to open in Taiwan.
After taking early action to stem the outbreak, the republic of 23-million inhabitants has an official toll of just six Covid-19 deaths and fewer than 500 infections. - dpa
A further two people were in a critical condition, according to Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency (CNA). Fifty-four people had been taken to hospital in total.
The fire began in the fifth floor of the Cash Box KTV club in Taipei before 11am and was extinguished at about 11.30am, CNA reported.
Local television channels showed huge amounts of smoke pouring out of the 14-storey entertainment venue, situated in one of the main nightlife areas in central Taipei's Chung Shan District.
More than 200 customers were in the lower nine floors of the building.
Many had to be rescued by ladder after fleeing up to the higher storeys. The cause of the blaze was unclear.
The building had reportedly undergone a fire inspection in March, but several customers told local television media that no fire alarms had sounded and that construction work was being carried out in the club at the time of the incident.
Taipei Fire Department Detachment chief Wang Cheng-hsiung said that five fire emergency doors were found locked, CNA reported.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, clubs and restaurants are allowed to open in Taiwan.
After taking early action to stem the outbreak, the republic of 23-million inhabitants has an official toll of just six Covid-19 deaths and fewer than 500 infections. - dpa
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