Aftermath of Taiwan building fire which killed 46

A building fire that raged out of control for hours early Thursday in a major city in southern Taiwan left 46 people dead and at least 41 others injured, authorities said.

Overnight flames and smoke billowed from the lower floors of the 13-story building as firefighters tried to douse the blaze from the street and aerial platforms in the city of Kaohsiung.

A fire department statement described the fire, which started about 3 a.m., as “extremely fierce” and said several floors had been destroyed.

It took firefighters until after 7 a.m. to extinguish the blaze.

Many of the upper floors appeared not to have been damaged directly. However, the smoke was thick enough to have killed and injured the several dozens living above the fire.

Neighborhood residents said the 13-story building was home to many poor, elderly and disabled people and it wasn’t clear how many of the 120 units were occupied.

Fire extinguishers had been installed last month, but only three per floor because the residents could not afford to pay more, the United Daily News, a major newspaper, reported.

IMAGE: AP