At least 64 people were killed and 10 injured when a fire roared through a three-story karaoke club in central Taiwan Wednesday, police said.
The fire, one of Taiwan's worst in recent years, started at about 7 p.m. in Weierkang Club, a karaoke nightclub with a restaurant. It is in Taichung, a city in central Taiwan.National television quoted witnesses who escaped as saying they heard an explosion inside the restaurant. The reports said more than 100 customers were inside, but only about 10 escaped.
Police said firefighters took an hour to extinguish the blaze, whose origin was not immediately known.
Taiwan's karaoke clubs, many of which operate without government permission or qualified safety facilities, have been the site of several recent fires.
Karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese. The pastime allows patrons to take the stage and sing along to popular songs played without vocal tracks.