Chiayi Residential Fire Kills Family of 3; Autopsy on 24th to Clarify Cause of Death
A fire in a multi-story house in Chiayi City resulted in the deaths of a husband, wife, and their 5-year-old daughter. Autopsies are scheduled for the 24th to determine the exact cause of death, with investigations considering prior domestic disputes and the disappearance of mobile phones.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 18:26
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 18:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 21:11 (2h 39m after Collected)
CHIAYI CITY, April 20 (CNA) - A fire in a multi-story house on Daya Road Section 2 in Chiayi City yesterday resulted in the deaths of a couple surnamed Weng and their 5-year-old daughter. Prosecutors and police conducted an autopsy and forensic examination today. Given that the couple reportedly had disputes, an autopsy will be performed on the 24th, and lost mobile phones will be sought to clarify the exact cause of death for the three individuals.
The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office issued a press release stating that it has directed police and fire departments to conduct on-site investigations and evidence collection, while simultaneously activating a care mechanism with personnel from the Chiayi Branch of the Criminal Justice Foundation of the Republic of China to provide relevant counseling, support, and companionship to the family.
Prosecutors and police stated that the autopsy will aim to determine if there are signs of carbon monoxide inhalation in the lungs, and organ samples will be collected for toxicological testing. Regarding the cause of the fire, the Chiayi City Fire Department has been entrusted to complete the fire investigation and identification as soon as possible to clarify the circumstances of the fire.
Upon receiving the report of the fire yesterday evening, fire department personnel and vehicles rushed to the scene. Flames and smoke were present on the first to third floors, and the fire had already spread to the top floor. Firefighters immediately deployed hoses to extinguish the blaze. No calls for help were heard. The fire was brought under control around 9:09 PM, but the three occupants of the house died after being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
According to surveillance footage from neighbors, around 8 PM yesterday, the husband surnamed Weng opened the rolling shutter door and urgently retrieved what appeared to be a small fire extinguisher from a car parked in the garage. He then rushed into the house, and the garage began to burn. The fire spread rapidly. After neighbors discovered the fire, they notified 119, moved the car out of the garage, and attempted to use hoses to put out the fire.
Prosecutors and police stated that some neighbors reported that the couple surnamed Weng had disputes, but both sets of relatives expressed that the couple had a very good relationship. In addition to seizing the car's dashcam footage, they have urged the police to diligently search for the couple's mobile phones, which were lost in the fire, in the hope of reconstructing the situation. (Editor: Lee Ming-tsung) 1150420
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The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office issued a press release stating that it has directed police and fire departments to conduct on-site investigations and evidence collection, while simultaneously activating a care mechanism with personnel from the Chiayi Branch of the Criminal Justice Foundation of the Republic of China to provide relevant counseling, support, and companionship to the family.
Prosecutors and police stated that the autopsy will aim to determine if there are signs of carbon monoxide inhalation in the lungs, and organ samples will be collected for toxicological testing. Regarding the cause of the fire, the Chiayi City Fire Department has been entrusted to complete the fire investigation and identification as soon as possible to clarify the circumstances of the fire.
Upon receiving the report of the fire yesterday evening, fire department personnel and vehicles rushed to the scene. Flames and smoke were present on the first to third floors, and the fire had already spread to the top floor. Firefighters immediately deployed hoses to extinguish the blaze. No calls for help were heard. The fire was brought under control around 9:09 PM, but the three occupants of the house died after being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
According to surveillance footage from neighbors, around 8 PM yesterday, the husband surnamed Weng opened the rolling shutter door and urgently retrieved what appeared to be a small fire extinguisher from a car parked in the garage. He then rushed into the house, and the garage began to burn. The fire spread rapidly. After neighbors discovered the fire, they notified 119, moved the car out of the garage, and attempted to use hoses to put out the fire.
Prosecutors and police stated that some neighbors reported that the couple surnamed Weng had disputes, but both sets of relatives expressed that the couple had a very good relationship. In addition to seizing the car's dashcam footage, they have urged the police to diligently search for the couple's mobile phones, which were lost in the fire, in the hope of reconstructing the situation. (Editor: Lee Ming-tsung) 1150420
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force for defending press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, transmitted, or utilized without authorization.