ZCZC
BFF-15
FIRE-TAIWAN
Fire in southern Taiwan kills seven, injures two
TAIPEI, Dec 14, 2019 (BSS/XINHUA) – A suspected arsonist killed seven
people and injured two in a residential building in Tainan city of southern
Taiwan early Saturday morning, according to local police.
The fire broke out at about 1:20 a.m. and was put out around 3 a.m., the
Tainan fire department said.
Among the 46 residents in the building, 37 managed to get out safely while
two suffered minor injuries when jumping out of the windows.
One person died after being sent to the hospital and six bodies were found
in the building by firemen.
A 21-year-old local man surnamed Tseng turned himself in and confessed
that he set the building on fire using two 5-liter barrels of gasoline, the
police said.
The man, who allegedly had been institutionalized for mental illness, has
been placed in custody for further investigation, the police said.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1345 hrs