A devastating fire at a hospital in southern Taiwan claimed the lives of nine people on Thursday, as emergency responders worked to control the blaze amid challenging weather conditions brought by Typhoon Krathon.

The fire erupted at a hospital in Pingtung County around 7:40 a.m., according to Taiwan’s Fire Department.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames shortly after 1 p.m. Eight victims, evacuated for treatment, were later confirmed dead. Authorities found a ninth victim at the scene after the fire was contained.

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The blaze coincided with Typhoon Krathon’s landfall in Taiwan’s south, although officials have not connected the fire to the storm.

The typhoon’s strong winds and heavy rainfall led to widespread disruptions, forcing schools and businesses to remain closed for a second day.

The storm has also left two people dead and more than 100 others injured.

Investigations into the cause of the hospital fire are ongoing as Taiwan contends with the storm’s aftermath and the tragedy at the hospital.

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that seven of its soldiers were killed during intense clashes with Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon.

The deaths occurred amid ongoing ground operations that Israel initiated three days ago, targeting Hezbollah positions in the region.

The ground raids come after weeks of airstrikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

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The air campaign has resulted in over 1,000 deaths and displaced roughly 1 million people, according to Lebanese authorities.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah follows a year of heightened tensions after Israel’s conflict with Hamas erupted in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack.

Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, began launching rockets into northern Israel shortly after the conflict in Gaza began, intensifying hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

In a significant development following its missile attack on Israel, Iran has extended the closure of its airspace, anticipating possible Israeli reprisals.

The state news agency ISNA reported that all flights will remain suspended until 5 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Thursday, citing concerns for aviation security.

The airspace closure initially took effect over Tehran, halting flights through Wednesday morning after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a series of missiles targeting three Israeli air bases and the headquarters of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service.

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Iranian officials have framed the attack as retaliation for the recent assassinations of prominent leaders, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, and an Iranian general.

In a public address on Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for Western nations to withdraw from the Middle East, stating that Iran would not be deterred by mourning for its leaders.

This was Khamenei’s first public appearance since the missile assault, during which he stressed, “Being in mourning does not mean being depressed and sitting in a corner.”

The missile attack appears to have galvanized Iran’s political leadership, previously marked by divisions.

Key figures have justified the strike as a necessary measure to restore deterrence and affirm Iran’s sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in diplomatic outreach with European officials, insisting that Iran does not seek to escalate tensions.

He claimed that Iran’s military targets were strictly confined to military assets, contrasting with Israeli attacks in Lebanon that have resulted in civilian casualties.

When asked whether Iran had issued direct warnings to the United States regarding the missile strikes, Araghchi declined to confirm such communications.

However, he noted that there had been an exchange of messages through the Swiss embassy in Tehran after the missile launch, emphasizing the role of Switzerland as a diplomatic intermediary for U.S.-Iran relations.

As the situation unfolds, Iran braces for potential Israeli responses, particularly concerning its nuclear facilities, intensifying the already fraught atmosphere in the region.