FUKUOKA, Japan - At least 10 people killed after fire broke out at
orthopedic hospital in southern Fukuoka prefecture. A fire at a small hospital
in southern Japan has killed at least ten people, police say.
The fire, which broke out early on Friday morning, also injured another
eight people, police said. Their condition was not immediately known.
"We have confirmed the deaths of 10 people - eight in-patients and two
hospital workers," said a local police spokesman in the southern Japanese
prefecture of Fukuoka.
The fire is believed to have started around 2:20am (17:20 GMT on Thursday)
at the four-story building and was put out more than two hours later.
"The cause of the fire is yet to be determined," the police
official said, adding that the victims have yet to be identified.
Opened in 1970, the orthopedic hospital is located in a quiet residential
area, local media said, adding that many of the inpatients were elderly.
NHK quoted a firefighter as saying that flames were already emanating from
the windows of the building when fire engines arrived.
A 43-year-old woman living in the neighbourhood told the network: "A
lot of smoke came to the front door of my house and I heard shouts like 'Help!'
and crunching sounds."
Jiji Press news agency said some elderly patients were seen being rushed out
of the hospital while ambulance crews were giving them heart massages.
Source: Agencies
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