9 dead after fire engulfs warehouse in Taichung City

fire engulfs warehouse in Taicung City
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Nine people were found dead and 7 were injured after a fire engulfed a warehouse under construction in Taichung City yesterday, Thursday, December 19. Taichung City Fire Department received reports of a fire at the 8,692-square-meter warehouse on Shatin Road, Dadu District at around 1:25 pm. Firefighters rescued 14 people trapped in the building. Some were rescued from balconies using a ladder truck. Five deceased workers were found on the third floor mezzanine, not far from an exit. It is

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5 people injured in 2 separate car crashes involving “zombie drug” in Kaohsiung City last night

scene of accident in Renwu District involving drug driver and police vehicle
Drugs 
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Two separate incidents involving drivers suspected to be under the influence of the drug etomidate left five people injured, including two police officers, in Kaohsiung City overnight. Suspected drug driver knocks down scooters, injuring 2 According to reports, two women were injured when a car suddenly veered to the right and crashed into motor scooters parked on the roadside on Qingnian Road in Fengshan District at around 9:00pm. Police witnessed the incident and responded immediately. The 41-year-old driver, named Liu,

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2 injured after light aircraft crash in southern Taiwan

light aircraft crash in Pingtung county Taiwan
Breaking News 
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Two people suffered injuries after a light airplane crashed shortly after take-off from an airfield in Pingtung County yesterday, Monday, December 9. Pingtung County Fire Department said they received reports that a light aircraft had crashed near an airfield in Gaoshu Township at 10:55 am. Six vehicles and 13 personnel were dispatched to deal with the incident. Firefighters found two people trapped in the wreckage of the aircraft. Both occupants were conscious. A 54-year-old female passenger suffered a head laceration

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Cruise ship break down leaves more than 1,800 Taiwanese stranded in Japan

MSC cruise ship Glory
Travel and Tourism 
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Taiwanese airlines have coordinated a series of emergency flights to bring home more than 1,800 Taiwanese travelers who are stranded in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, after a cruise ship malfunction prevented the ship from returning to Taiwan yesterday. The MSC cruise ship “Glory” was originally scheduled to arrive at the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan yesterday, Sunday, December 8. However, the ship remains docked at Naha Port, Okinawa, today awaiting repairs after a “mechanical malfunction” Saturday, December 7. The MSC

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Russian submarine spotted near Taiwan

Russian Kilo-class submarine and escort, courtesy of Japan Ministry of Defense
Military Affairs Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

A Russian submarine was spotted off the coast of a Japanese island near Taiwan, Tuesday, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Japanese Joint Staff said a Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 50 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island at around 8:00 am, December 3. The submarine was accompanied by a Russian naval ship and moving northeast between Yonaguni and Iriomote Island. It was the first time a Russian submarine has been spotted in those waters, the military said. Japan’s military dispatched

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Marijuana growing bust in southern Taiwan breaks national record

cannabis plants growing in a greenhouse in Taiwan
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

Prosecutors in Yunlin County arrested five suspects after busting a marijuana growing operation they said is the biggest ever uncovered in the country’s history, it was announced today, December 4. According to a press release from the Yunlin County Special Task Force, Yunlin County police received a tip-off in May this year that a man named Tsai was involved in cultivating marijuana in a mountain district of Tainan City. Police from Yunlin, Tainan, Nantou, Changhua, and Chiayi were involved in

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Taiwan celebrates historic win at world baseball championship

Taiwan baseball team celebrates victory
Sport 
Lyon Chiang 2 Comments

Lyon Chiang, New York In a historic night for Taiwanese baseball, the Chinese Taipei national team defeated Japan 4-0 to claim the WBSC Premier12 championship, marking the first time Taiwan has won a senior-level international baseball tournament. This victory, celebrated as the most significant moment in Taiwan’s baseball history, has captured global attention and admiration. The game began with both teams locked in a pitching duel, remaining scoreless through four innings. In the fifth inning, Taiwan finally broke through Japan’s

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Citizens take down suspect after he smashes jewelry store window in brazen daylight robbery

Citizens restrain man who attempted to rob jewelry store
Breaking News 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A woman was the first of several bystanders to step in and restrain a man, after he smashed a jewelry store window with a hammer, and began stuffing gold jewelry into a bag during a brazen daylight robbery in Taitung City, Monday. Surveillance camera footage of the incident showed a suspect smashing the display window of a jewelry store at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Datong Road at around 9:45 am. As the man stuffed gold jewelry into a

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Harsher penalties for illegal abortions, Taiwan justice ministry proposes

Taiwan Ministry of Justice HQ sign
Society 
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Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice intends to increase penalties for illegal abortions, as current fines are out of date, the MOJ announced this week. According to the MOJ proposal, the fine for women who have abortions outside legal parameters allowed under the Genetic Health Act will be increased from NT$3,000 (US$94) to NT$80,000 (US$2,505). For those who provide an illegal abortion for profit, the fine will increase from NT$15,000 (US$470) to NT$500,000 (US$16,656). If the procedure results in the death of

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Extremely heavy rain expected as Typhoon Kong-rey heads for Taiwan’s east coast

Typhoon Kong-rey satellite image
Breaking News 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration predicts that areas of northern and eastern Taiwan will experience extremely heavy rain from tonight, Wednesday, until Friday, November 1, as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches on a trajectory to make landfall on the east coast around midday tomorrow, Thursday. The CWA issued a land and maritime alert for Typhoon Kong-rey at 5:30 am. The initial land warning covers Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula, and is expected to expand in subsequent alerts as the storm gets closer

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Tugboat racing against typhoon after Chinese cargo ship abandoned by crew off Taiwan’s north coast

Cargo ship at anchor off New Taipei City coast
Marine and Fisheries 
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A Chinese cargo ship was abandoned by its crew less than one kilometer from the coast of northern Taiwan last night, and has been left at anchor as a typhoon approaches the island today, October 30. The platform cargo ship Yuzhou Qihang left Keelung Harbor at around 8:00 am yesterday, in an attempt to cross the Taiwan Strait ahead of the approaching Typhoon Kong-rey. However, the top-heavy vessel, loaded with three massive bridge cranes, failed to make headway in high

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