Fierce Fire In 13-Storyed Building Kills 50, Leaves Dozens Injured

A deadly fire in a 13-story building in Taiwan has killed 50 people and injured dozens.

According to an AP report, fire engulfed the building overnight and. The death toll has been rising as rescue and evacuation work continued through morning and afternoon. At least 50 people have received serious injuries.

A statement from the fire department in Kaohsiung city said the blaze was “extremely fierce and destroyed many floors.”

The 40-year building housed shops on lower levels and apartments above. The lower floors were completely blackened.

Taiwanese television aired videos which show orange flames and smoke billowing out of the lower floors of the building as firefighters sprayed water from the street in the early hours of morning. Several hours later, they were seen spraying water towards middle floors of the still smoldering building.

Though the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained officially, firefighters said that the flames burned most intensely in places where a lot of clutter had been piled up.