Nantou house fire kills two, injures one; elder son escapes unharmed

A devastating fire ripped through a four-story residential building in Nantou City early Friday morning, claiming the lives of two people and leaving one seriously injured. The blaze broke out around 5:25 a.m. on June 14, engulfing the home in flames and thick smoke.

The victims, identified as the 49-year-old homeowner, Mr. Hsiao, and his 50-year-old girlfriend, were trapped in their sleep and could not escape the inferno. Firefighters discovered Mr. Hsiao in a state of cardiac arrest in a third-floor bathroom, and his girlfriend was found with extensive burns in a fourth-floor room, where she had already succumbed to her injuries. Tragically, the elder son of Mr. Hsiao was staying at his grandmother's house and escaped the disaster unharmed.

The younger son, aged 21, managed to survive by leaping from the fourth floor. He suffered burns to 38% of his body and is currently receiving treatment, having been transferred to a higher-level medical facility. Neighbors described the family as friendly and well-regarded in the community, having lived in the house for about 20 years. They reported hearing explosion-like sounds before the fire rapidly spread.

Fire investigators preliminarily believe the fire originated on the first floor. The narrow stairwell, accumulation of flammable materials, and lack of fire barriers likely created a chimney effect, accelerating the fire's upward spread. The blaze also damaged a neighboring house and three vehicles, with estimated damages totaling NT$1.5 million (approximately $46,000 USD). The cause of the fire is under further investigation.