Fire at Taichung Warehouse Kills Nine

A devastating fire at a food-processing warehouse under construction in Taichung City, Taiwan, resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to seven others. The fire broke out around 1:25 PM on December 19, with reports indicating that welding sparks may have ignited flammable materials in the basement. Firefighters rescued 19 individuals, but tragically, victims were found on multiple floors, including a Vietnamese migrant worker who died after jumping from the third floor. The building was intended for the PX Mart supermarket chain and was equipped with various flammable materials, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly. PX Mart has stated that no employees were on-site at the time, and the company has pledged to compensate the victims' families and assist in the ongoing investigation. Local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, amidst concerns about the materials used in construction.