Investigators are still looking into the cause of a deadly fire that took place in a Taipei karaoke establishment over the weekend. An initial survey found that smoke detectors and other safety equipment had been turned off.
Five people are dead after a fire raced through a karaoke establishment in Taipei on Sunday. Another 51 were sent to hospital.
Security camera footage shows that the fire started in a storage room on the fifth floor. A worker says that he was carrying out maintenance on an elevator when he smelled smoke inside of the building.
Authorities say the building’s fire equipment wasn’t functional at the time of the fire. Even though the water main and hydrants were operational, the control panel in the basement was switched to STOP. Indoor hydrants did not kick into action; sprinklers failed to activate; alarm and broadcasting systems were shut off; and smoke ventilators weren’t active. None of the building’s fire control measures worked as needed.
A total of 17 staff members at the karaoke establishment have been called in for questioning. Two managers and one engineer have been charged with negligent homicide. They are in custody, with bail set at NT$250,000 (about US$8,300).