House fire in Chiayi leaves two hospitalized with smoke inhalation

A fire erupted in a residential building in Longde Village, Shuishang Township, Chiayi County, early this morning, filling the area with thick smoke. Firefighters responded swiftly to the scene, extinguishing the blaze and rescuing two people trapped inside.

The two individuals, a man estimated to be around 45 years old and a woman around 38, were found disoriented due to heavy smoke inhalation. Emergency medical personnel provided immediate treatment before transporting the man to Chiayi Veterans Hospital, later transferred to Chiayi Christian Hospital, and the woman to Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

The fire, which appears to have started in the kitchen at the rear of the first floor, was contained to a small area of approximately 3 square meters. However, the dense smoke posed a significant risk to the occupants. Fire authorities are urging residents to install residential smoke alarms to ensure early detection and safe evacuation in case of fire.