TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 6 (UPI) -- A nightclub dance act started a fire that killed nine people early Sunday in central Taiwan, police said.
A male dancer at the 2-story bar in Taichung City was using a torch that ignited the ceiling and quickly filled the bar with smoke, the Central News Agency reported.
There were about 70 people in the bar when the fire broke out. One of them, identified only as Chen, told the news agency many patrons thought the fireball was part of the performance.
Police said all of the fatalities happened on the second floor and all were caused by smoke inhalation.
The city's mayor, Jason Hu, told CNA the bar had passed numerous safety inspections.
The report said the city bans live fire shows in restaurants and hotels, but not bars.
