Pingtung Antai Hospital Fire That Killed 9: Su Ching-chuan and 3 Others Indicted After Investigation Reopened
The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office indicted Su Ching-chuan, honorary president of Antai Hospital and a Kuomintang legislator, along with three others on June 2, 2025, for their roles in a fire that killed 9 people on October 3, 2024. The case was reopened after a higher court overturned a previous deferred prosecution decision.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 12:51
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(CNA reporter Li Huiting, Pingtung County, June 3) A fire at Antai Hospital in Donggang, Pingtung County, which killed 9 people, has led to the indictment of four individuals, including honorary president and Kuomintang legislator Su Ching-chuan. The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office had initially issued a deferred prosecution for the four in August last year, but the Kaohsiung High Prosecutors Office overturned this decision in October, citing improper handling, and ordered a reinvestigation. The indictment was announced on June 2.
Su Ching-chuan stated in a phone interview today that he has been cooperating with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the county government, and the health bureau to make gradual improvements. He said he respects the investigation results and will face the judicial process with courage and humility.
The fire at Donggang Antai Hospital on October 3, 2024, resulted in 9 deaths and numerous injuries from smoke inhalation. The Pingtung Prosecutors Office initially decided on a deferred prosecution for Su Ching-chuan, his brother Su Wei-song (the hospital's general affairs manager), a water and electrical engineer surnamed Cheng, and an inspector surnamed Kuo. This decision was based on their confessions, settlements with all victims' families, and the hospital's long-term provision of medical services to the Pingnan region. However, the Kaohsiung High Prosecutors Office deemed this handling inappropriate for a major public safety incident and ordered a reinvestigation.
According to the Pingtung Prosecutors Office's press release, Su Ching-chuan, as the hospital's founder and current honorary president, held substantial control over the hospital's operations and decisions. His brother, Su Wei-song, was responsible for construction and maintenance projects.
The investigation revealed that when Building D of Antai Hospital was completed in 2005, its floor area ratio had already reached the legal limit of 200%, preventing any further construction permits for expansion. To increase space, Su Ching-chuan and Su Wei-song illegally added five floors to the power supply center and connected it to Building D without applying for permits from health or construction authorities, completely nullifying the required fire safety setbacks.
Furthermore, Inspector Kuo, who held a professional certification for building public safety inspections, had been filing false reports on the hospital's fire safety and evacuation facilities for years. The water and electrical engineer, Cheng, while trying to address water accumulation from storms, improperly operated a submersible pump's extension cord, causing a short circuit that sparked the fire.
The prosecution concluded that while the illegal construction on Building D has been demolished, the connecting illegal structures between Buildings A, B, and C remain, and the critical fire safety setbacks are still compromised, leaving the building's safety hazards unresolved. Su Ching-chuan and Su Wei-song were indicted for violating the Building Act resulting in death, Cheng for negligent homicide, and Kuo for filing false documents. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150603
Su Ching-chuan stated in a phone interview today that he has been cooperating with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the county government, and the health bureau to make gradual improvements. He said he respects the investigation results and will face the judicial process with courage and humility.
The fire at Donggang Antai Hospital on October 3, 2024, resulted in 9 deaths and numerous injuries from smoke inhalation. The Pingtung Prosecutors Office initially decided on a deferred prosecution for Su Ching-chuan, his brother Su Wei-song (the hospital's general affairs manager), a water and electrical engineer surnamed Cheng, and an inspector surnamed Kuo. This decision was based on their confessions, settlements with all victims' families, and the hospital's long-term provision of medical services to the Pingnan region. However, the Kaohsiung High Prosecutors Office deemed this handling inappropriate for a major public safety incident and ordered a reinvestigation.
According to the Pingtung Prosecutors Office's press release, Su Ching-chuan, as the hospital's founder and current honorary president, held substantial control over the hospital's operations and decisions. His brother, Su Wei-song, was responsible for construction and maintenance projects.
The investigation revealed that when Building D of Antai Hospital was completed in 2005, its floor area ratio had already reached the legal limit of 200%, preventing any further construction permits for expansion. To increase space, Su Ching-chuan and Su Wei-song illegally added five floors to the power supply center and connected it to Building D without applying for permits from health or construction authorities, completely nullifying the required fire safety setbacks.
Furthermore, Inspector Kuo, who held a professional certification for building public safety inspections, had been filing false reports on the hospital's fire safety and evacuation facilities for years. The water and electrical engineer, Cheng, while trying to address water accumulation from storms, improperly operated a submersible pump's extension cord, causing a short circuit that sparked the fire.
The prosecution concluded that while the illegal construction on Building D has been demolished, the connecting illegal structures between Buildings A, B, and C remain, and the critical fire safety setbacks are still compromised, leaving the building's safety hazards unresolved. Su Ching-chuan and Su Wei-song were indicted for violating the Building Act resulting in death, Cheng for negligent homicide, and Kuo for filing false documents. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150603