Taipei City, Taiwan —February 1, 2026 — A late-night apartment fire in Taipei’s Daan District claimed the lives of two people and forced the evacuation of 58 residents, authorities said on Saturday.
The blaze broke out at a residential building along Guangfu South Road on Friday evening. Firefighters arriving at the scene found intense flames and thick smoke billowing from a 10th-floor unit. Inside the apartment, a 55-year-old woman surnamed Hsu and her 61-year-old boyfriend, surnamed Chiu, were discovered unconscious in the bathroom of the master bedroom, where they were believed to have sought refuge from the fire.
Both victims had suffered severe smoke inhalation and were found without vital signs. Despite being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, they were pronounced dead later that night.
The Taipei City Fire Department received the emergency call at 8:33 p.m. and immediately dispatched 21 fire engines, five ambulances, and 67 firefighters to the scene. Fire crews deployed water lines and forcibly entered the burning unit to conduct firefighting and rescue operations. The fire was brought under control at around 9:08 p.m. and fully extinguished approximately 10 minutes later.
Officials said the fire completely destroyed the affected apartment, burning furniture and interior fixtures. The total burn area was estimated at about 50 square meters. As a safety precaution, residents from other units in the building were evacuated, with a total of 58 people — 31 men and 27 women — temporarily displaced.
According to relatives, Chiu normally lived in the Yangmingshan area and worked as a beekeeper, but frequently returned to the apartment and was reportedly in a stable relationship with Hsu. Hsu’s son, who lives with her, was not at home at the time of the incident, having left earlier in the day to meet friends. He was later notified by firefighters, narrowly avoiding the tragedy. Hsu’s daughter, who is married and lives elsewhere, was also not present during the fire.
Fire investigators returned to the scene on Saturday after accumulated water inside the unit was cleared. Preliminary findings indicate that melted and tangled electrical wiring was found in the living room, suggesting an electrical fault as the most likely cause. Authorities said there is no evidence of arson, though it remains unclear whether appliances such as electric heaters were involved.
The exact cause of the fire and the official causes of death will be determined following further investigation and forensic examination, authorities added.