TAIPEI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Nine people have died and another 15 were injured after a fire in a hospital in New Taipei City, local authorities said Monday.

Of the 15 injured, 11 have severe injuries, while the rest suffered minor injuries.

The fire started in a ward on the seventh floor of the Taipei Hospital around 4:30 a.m. Monday. There were 32 patients on the floor at the time, according to a firefighter surnamed Chen.

"When we arrived there were flames coming out of the ward. The rest of the wards on the floor were filled with heavy smoke," said Chen.

Medical workers helped some patients escape. Others climbed to the top floor and were rescued by firefighters with cranes.

Some 208 firefighters and 76 fire engines were dispatched to the scene. The fire was extinguished at 5:27 a.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.