A fire broke out at the Antai Hospital in Donggang, Pingtung, Taiwan on the 3rd of October, resulting in the tragic deaths of 8 individuals with 2 others currently missing. The authorities, including the police and fire department, are engaged in ongoing search and rescue efforts.
The Pingtung County government issued a press release stating that the fire originated in the electrical room on the second floor of Antai Hospital, causing thick smoke to billow out. The Pingtung County Fire Department swiftly mobilized to the scene for rescue operations. The Health Bureau activated a large-scale emergency response plan. As of noon, a total of 324 patients from Building D were safely evacuated, with 323 accounted for and transferred to alternative medical facilities. Among them, 8 individuals suffered from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and despite all efforts, they could not be saved.
County Magistrate Zhou Chun-mi rushed to Donggang immediately to assess the rescue situation firsthand. Currently, one patient and one electrical room staff member remain unaccounted for. The search and rescue mission led by the police and fire department is ongoing. The county magistrate urged all relevant agencies to spare no effort in the rescue operation, leaving no one behind. The cause of the fire at Antai Hospital is still under investigation.
The Pingtung County Fire Department received the emergency call at 7:41 am and promptly dispatched teams from Donggang, Nanzhou, Linbian, Xinyuan, Kanding, Chaozhou, Xinpi, Zhutian, Wandan, Special Search Squad of 8 teams, and the 3rd Fire Brigade comprising a total of 116 personnel across 46 vehicles. Fire Department Director Li Bin is overseeing the rescue operation on-site. Additionally, 33 military personnel and 10 ambulances are on standby. The impact of Typhoon Santao has led to strong winds and heavy rains in the Donggang area, posing challenges to the rescue efforts.
Simultaneously, the Health Bureau initiated measures to accommodate and care for the evacuated patients. They coordinated with the Transportation and Tourism Department and the Social Affairs Department to deploy Pingtung Bus rehabilitation vehicles for support, along with medical services from local hospitals, private ambulances, Kaohsiung City Health Bureau, and the military ambulance system for transferring patients to other medical facilities in the county. A total of 40 individuals have been transferred, with 12 requiring the use of ventilators.