TAIPEI Nine people died on Thursday after a fire ripped through a hospital in southern Taiwan just as a typhoon hit, making rescue operations "more difficult," authorities said. The blaze in Pingtung County was reported at around 7:40 a.m., and was put out shortly after 1 p.m., according to an online post by the island's fire agency. Eight victims were confirmed dead after being taken away for treatment, and another was later found dead at the scene, the agency said. The fire broke out the same