TAIPEI, Taiwan — A tragic fire erupted on Thursday in central Taiwan, claiming the lives of nine individuals at a large food processing facility that was still under construction, according to local reports.
The incident took place in Taichung, where video footage shared on social media depicted large plumes of dark gray smoke and flames shooting from one end of the five-story structure. While the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined, officials from the Taichung government indicated that the rapid spread of the blaze was likely fueled by a significant amount of foam panels present at the site.
Reports suggest that one of the victims perished after jumping from the third floor during the incident, while firefighters conducted an extensive search into the evening to locate the remaining victims. In total, nineteen individuals were rescued from the scene.
The building was intended for the PX Mart supermarket chain, highlighting the scale and significance of this construction site.
