Blaze at night club in central Taiwan kills nine

Blaze at night club in central Taiwan kills nine

2011-03-06 14:03:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

TAIPEI (BNO NEWS) -- Nine people were killed on early Sunday morning when a fire broke out during a performance at a night club in central Taiwan, state-run media reported.

The state-run Central News Agency (CNA) reported that the fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning at the "ALA" bar in Taichung City. A photo from the scene showed thick clouds of smoke rising from the scene.

CNA said the blaze broke out while a 28-year-old male dancer was performing a fire show. The fire spread quickly, killing nine people and injuring 12 others.

The Taichung City Fire Department said the bar had passed nearly two dozen safety inspections in the past five years. The most recent one was carried out in February.

Police are questioning the dancer who is believed to have caused the fire.

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