A fire broke out at a buffet restaurant on the 46th floor of the Breeze Xin Yi department store in Taipei’s Xinyi District (信義) today, prompting the evacuation of more than 300 people and leaving five hospitalized, the Taipei Fire Department said.
The fire at Inparadise (饗饗) was reported at 11:26am, the department said.
The department dispatched 67 personnel, 17 fire engines, five ambulances and four command vehicles to the scene.
Photo courtesy of authorities
Firefighters evacuated 312 people — 159 men and 153 women — from the premises, it said.
The blaze was quickly brought under control and completely extinguished by 11:45am, preventing it from spreading to other areas, the department said.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire started in the kitchen's exhaust duct, causing thick smoke to fill the restaurant, it added.
The fire burned an area of about 5m², damaging a stove and nearby items, it said.
Five people — three men and two women — were taken to a hospital.
Four of them were restaurant employees who sustained mild smoke inhalation, but remained conscious, while one visitor to the mall was hospitalized after feeling unwell, the department said.
Authorities urged restaurant operators to regularly inspect kitchen equipment and exhaust pipes, and to ensure that fire safety mechanisms are functioning properly to prevent similar incidents.
In the event of a fire, immediately call 119 and follow instructions to safely evacuate, the department added.
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