New Taipei Apartment Fire Kills One, Hospitalizes Three

A fire erupted in a multi-story apartment building in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, early Tuesday morning, sending three residents to the hospital and resulting in one fatality. The blaze broke out around 3:43 a.m., with flames and thick smoke seen billowing from the second floor of the five-story building.

Firefighters responded swiftly, deploying 32 fire trucks and 101 personnel to combat the fire and conduct rescue operations. The building's owner, identified by the surname Chen, managed to escape but sustained burns to her hands and face. Her 32-year-old son, surnamed Xu, escaped by jumping from a balcony after suffering smoke inhalation. Both were taken to the Wanfang Hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

Tragically, the owner's 67-year-old boyfriend, surnamed Huang, was found unconscious in a bathroom, overcome by smoke. Despite immediate medical attention after being rescued, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. He had suffered second-degree burns to his upper body.

The fire was brought under control by 4:06 a.m. and extinguished by 4:09 a.m. Initial investigations indicate the fire primarily affected the living room and a bedroom, covering an area of approximately 15 square meters. The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation by fire department officials.