One dead, one in hospital after incident at Taipei hot spring

A couple was found unresponsive in a private hot spring room in Taipei's Beitou district on Sunday afternoon, leaving the woman dead and the man in critical condition.

The incident occurred at the Shan Zhilin hot spring on Xingyi Road around 5pm. Staff discovered a man and a woman, both 46, with no signs of breathing or pulse inside the room. The woman, surnamed Kuo, was pronounced dead at the scene. The man, surnamed Li, was given emergency treatment before being rushed to hospital. Police said the two were in a relationship.

Authorities sealed off the scene for investigation. Preliminary findings suggest no external foul play.

Firefighters arriving at the scene did not detect carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide. However, as the incident occurred in a hot spring facility, the possibility of gas poisoning has not been ruled out. Police will request a prosecutor's examination to determine the exact cause, which could be related to poor ventilation or underlying health conditions.