TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A fire broke out Monday at the 46th-floor Inparadise restaurant in Taipei's Xinyi District, sending five people to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The Taipei City Fire Department received a report at around 11:26 a.m. of a fire at the eatery, operated by Feastogether Corp., in Breeze Xinyi, per CNA. Authorities deployed four command vehicles, 17 fire engines, five ambulances, and 67 personnel, who helped evacuate 312 people.

Preliminary findings suggest the fire was caused by a burning kitchen exhaust duct that produced heavy smoke. Firefighters quickly brought the situation under control, preventing the fire from spreading, and extinguished it by 11:45 a.m.

Kitchen equipment and miscellaneous items were burned, with the affected area estimated at five square meters. Five people, including three men and two women, were sent to the hospital.

Among them, four were restaurant staff who suffered minor smoke inhalation and remained conscious. One customer was hospitalized due to physical discomfort.

Police urged restaurant operators to regularly inspect kitchen equipment and exhaust systems and ensure fire safety systems are functioning properly to prevent similar incidents. Members of the public were advised to report fires immediately by calling 119 and following evacuation instructions.