TEHRAN, December 20 (MNA) – Nine people died Thursday in a massive fire in central Taiwan at a huge food-processing building that was under construction, news reports said.Video posted on social media showed a wall of dark gray smoke and orange flames billowing out of one end of the five-story building in the city of Taichung, AP reported.

The cause of the fire was undetermined but the Taichung government said it spread rapidly because of a large quantity of foam panels on site.

One person died after jumping from the third floor and the other victims were found by firefighters in a search that extended into the evening, Taiwanese media said.

Nineteen people were rescued.

The building was being constructed for the PX Mart supermarket chain.

MA/PR