Taoyuan City, Taiwan – August 31, 2025 – A devastating fire broke out early Sunday morning in a three-story townhouse in Zhongli District, leaving five people dead despite desperate rescue attempts.
According to authorities, the blaze rapidly consumed the entire building. The elderly homeowners, surnamed Ye, managed to escape unharmed. However, their daughter-in-law, surnamed Huang, along with her son, daughter, and two children of a family friend who were staying overnight, were trapped on the third floor and unable to flee.
Initial findings suggest the fire began near the only bedroom on the third floor, which was part of a connected tin house structure with wooden partitions. Investigators believe an electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze. The fire spread swiftly through the middle of the floor, while iron bars on both the front and rear windows blocked all possible escape routes.
Witnesses said that when flames erupted, Ms. Huang urgently called her in-laws on the second floor for help. Her father-in-law rushed upstairs with a fire extinguisher but was forced to retreat as the fire spread uncontrollably. Trapped inside, Ms. Huang and the four children embraced one another in their final moments before succumbing to the flames.
The Fire Department confirmed that the household had previously applied for a home fire alarm system. However, since residents are responsible for installation, investigators are still determining whether the device was properly installed or functional at the time of the tragedy.
Chief Prosecutor Li Jiahao and Prosecutor Cai Yingyu from the Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office arrived at the scene to oversee the investigation. The Fire Investigation Division is continuing to examine the exact cause of the blaze.
