A fire in a hospital in Taiwan's New Taipei City has caused heavy casualties, authorities said Monday.

According to local fire authorities, 16 people were found with no signs of life when they were rushed to hospital for treatment. So far, three of them have recovered signs of life after medical efforts. The rest remain under intensive care.

The fire in Taipei Hospital also left three people in a coma and another nine people injured as of 8 am, according to the local fire department, which received a fire alarm at 4:36 am Monday.

According to the department, the fire started in a patient ward on the seventh floor. There were 32 patients on the floor at the time. Local residents reportedly heard loud bangs.

The fire was extinguished at 5:27 am, after 76 vehicles and 208 firemen were sent to the rescue.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.