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Blaze at Taiwan Hospital Kills 9; Cause Being Investigated

by Reuters

   TAIPEI --

   A fire at a hospital in Taiwan killed nine people on Monday and injured
   15 and an investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze,
   authorities said.

   Premier William Lai said the health ministry was overseeing rescue
   efforts at the hospital in New Taipei City, where the fire was
   extinguished shortly after dawn.

   The fire broke out on the 7th floor of the building, which was used for
   hospice care.

   Media footage showed patients being wheeled out of the building in
   their hospital beds, while medical workers took others out on
   stretchers and into ambulances.

   Scores of ambulances lined up outside the hospital waiting to take
   victims to medical centers.