Taiwan hospital fire kills 9 as typhoon batters island

A fire has killed at least nine people at a hospital in southern Taiwan as the island was being battered by a typhoon.

The fire occurred in Pingtung county, which has been hit hard by Typhoon Krathon, which crossed the coast on Thursday afternoon, bringing parts of the island to a standstill.

Those who died inhaled smoke from the fire, the source of which was still under investigation.

Soldiers from a nearby base were mobilised to aid medical workers and firefighters in the evacuation of patients and putting out the flames.

Reports said 176 patients were rushed to the front entrance and transferred to ambulances or tarps, used to shield them from the pouring rain.

They were moved to shelters nearby.

Krathon crossed the coast in the major port city of Kaohsiung, packing winds of 126km/h with higher gusts, according to Taiwan's weather authorities.