TAIPI, Taiwan A fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan claimed the lives of at least nine people Thursday morning as the island was hit by a typhoon.
The incident occurred in Pingtung county, one of the most affected by Typhoon Krathon, which made landfall in the afternoon with torrential rains and powerful winds and has paralyzed part of the island.
The deaths were attributed to smoke inhalation from a source that is still being investigated.
Soldiers from a nearby base were mobilized to assist medical personnel and firefighters in evacuating patients and extinguishing the flames.
According to reports, 176 people were evacuated through the main entrance of the center and transferred to ambulances or to tents, installed to protect them from the torrential rains. They were taken to nearby shelters.
Krathon made landfall in the port city of Kaohsiung with maximum sustained winds of 78 mph and stronger gusts, according to Taiwanese meteorological authorities.
The slowly moving meteor has dumped rain on the east and south of the island over the past five days, forcing thousands of people to evacuate mountainous or low-lying areas.
Authorities warned residents in Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties not to go outside during the eye of the storm, when the weather briefly calmed down.
Flooding and strong winds have caused considerable damage to the industrial sector, from fishing to chemicals, as well as cutting transport routes and electricity networks.
In recent years, Taiwan has made considerable progress in fire protection by banning smoking and improving enforcement of building codes.