A total of 15 people in New Taipei City died overnight from Thursday to Friday, and although unsure, the fire department is linking the deaths to the cold weather. 

A cold front hit Taiwan proper early Saturday morning, and the temperature is forecasted to drop even lower. This is the strongest cold front to hit the nation in 10 years. 

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According to the fire department, they were called to respond to 10 emergencies from Thursday night to Friday morning. All those they attended to, ranging from middle-aged to elderly, died of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The causes of their deaths are, however, yet to be determined by doctors. None of those who died were homeless people.

Five people also died in Taoyuan, Northern Taiwan. Emergency cases at the Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH) doubled on Sunday. Most suffered from cardiac arrest, and stroke.  

Experts warn that those with respiratory diseases should take better care of themselves as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) "will be 10 percent more serious for every temperature drop of 1° from 5°C. 

Circumstances point to hypothermia and cardiovascular disease as the causes of death. 

The Central Weather Bureau warned of less than 10°C temperature throughout Taiwan on Saturday, with the elderly and the homeless at greater risk. The low temperature is expected to last until Tuesday. 

Specifically, island clusters Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu will experience below 10°C and is expected to dip throughout the day, while residents of Taichung City, Nantou County, and other areas in Norther Taiwan should brace themselves for heavy rains. 

TagsTaiwan weather, cold front, New Taipei City