A fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan that broke out while rain and winds from a typhoon were intensifying has killed nine people.
Local news outlets say the blaze started at a power distribution room of the facility in Pingtung County shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The flames were extinguished about three hours later. But eight inpatients and one employee died. Nearly 100 other patients were transferred to other hospitals for treatment.
Media reports say most of the patients who died were unable to evacuate quickly because they were bedridden.
Footage shows smoke billowing from a building and many patients sheltering near an entrance to the hospital during strong rain.
A power company says the electricity supply to the hospital was functioning normally when the fire occurred amid the rough weather caused by Typhoon Krathon.
Police and firefighters are trying to identify the cause of the blaze.