4 migrant workers injured after fight leads to dormitory fire in southern Taiwan

Four migrant workers were injured, two critically, and several were rescued after being trapped on the roof of a building, following a fire that was ignited when one of the men used a blowtorch as a weapon during an altercation at around midnight yesterday.

The Changhua County Fire Department dispatched 14 fire trucks, five ambulances, and 46 personnel, after receiving reports of a fire at a textile company dormitory building in Hemei Township at 12:09 am, Thursday.

A total of 33 Philippine nationals were evacuated from the building. Some of the occupants were forced to escape from upper floors of the building and had taken refuge on the roof of a sheet-metal building adjacent to the dormitory. Firefighters used a ladder truck to rescue the trapped workers.

Of the four men injured, two were in a critical condition. A 43-year-old man suffered burns to 90% of his body, while a 32-year-old man sustained burns to 60% of his body. The 43-year-old also had stab wounds to his chest and left ear. Two others were treated for smoke inhalation injury.

According to the investigation so far, the fire started on the second floor of the four-storey building. The 32-year-old man is suspected of stabbing the 43-year-old, then attacking him with a blowtorch during an altercation.

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