Disaster

Express train derailed by fallen rock as earthquake aftershocks continue to rattle Taiwan’s east coast

damaged derailed Puyuma express train
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

An express train bound for Taipei City derailed after hitting a boulder that fell onto the tracks in last night, but fortunately nobody was injured in the accident. According to reports, the Puyuma express train #445 from Taitung to New Taipei City hit a boulder and derailed near Heping Train Station in Xiulin Township in Hualien County at 9:10 pm. The accident caused traffic in both directions of the railway to be stopped. None of the 146 passengers or staff

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Big earthquake on Taiwan’s east coast felt across island: reports of damage and casualties

partially collapsed building in Hualien City
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Story still being revised and updated: 12:58 pm. Four people have died, and 98 are injured. Many people heading to work and school around Taiwan this morning had their morning commute interrupted when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast, causing shockwaves that shut down train and metro services in the capital Taipei and other cities. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the earthquake struck at 7:58 am, at a depth of 15.5 kilometers, 25 kilometers south-southeast of Hualien

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Tech factory fire causes stench over large areas of Taipei

firefighters battle fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Residents of Taipei City and New Taipei City were affected by air pollution from a factory fire in Shenkeng District overnight and this morning, leading to the mayors of the twin cities to advise residents to stay indoors and wear masks when going out. According to the New Taipei City Fire Department, a fire broke out at the warehouse of a tech company on Beishen Road in Shenkeng District at around 2:00 pm yesterday, February 20. The fire department dispatched

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4 migrant workers injured after fight leads to dormitory fire in southern Taiwan

migrant workers trapped on roof await rescue by firefighting ladder
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Four migrant workers were injured, two critically, and several were rescued after being trapped on the roof of a building, following a fire that was ignited when one of the men used a blowtorch as a weapon during an altercation at around midnight yesterday. The Changhua County Fire Department dispatched 14 fire trucks, five ambulances, and 46 personnel, after receiving reports of a fire at a textile company dormitory building in Hemei Township at 12:09 am, Thursday. A total of

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Four firefighters dead, more than 100 people injured after explosions and fire in southern Taiwan industrial park

factory on fire in Pingtung County, Taiwan
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

More than 100 people have been reported injured, and four firefighters are confirmed to have died, after a fire and multiple explosions at a factory in southern Taiwan, Friday, September 22. At around 5:30 pm, residents up to 10 kilometers away from the Pingtung Technology Industrial Park reported hearing a large explosion. Residents close to the site of the explosion felt the earth shake, and said that a strong chemical stench immediately followed the blast. Pingtung County Fire Department received

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Victims’ remains found on train 2 years after disastrous train derailment

Railway engineers inspect Taroko Express train memorial
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Pieces of human skull, bloodied clothing, and personal belongings of victims were found in the wrecked carriage of a train that stands as a memorial to one of Taiwan’s worst train accidents in a railway park in northern Taiwan today, September 1. Police investigators and Taiwan Railway Administration staff made the findings during a carpet search of of the train car after a piece of skull was found by a representative of the victims’ families during a visit to the

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Taichung City recycling plant fire causes pollution, takes 19 hours to extinguish

smoke from fire seen from a distance
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A fire at a recycling plant in Taichung City created a plume of thick, black smoke that could be seen up to 40 kilometers away yesterday, and was finally extinguished by firefighters this morning after a 19-hour-long battle. The Taichung City Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at a recycling plant on Wunan Road, Wuqi District at around 2:40 pm yesterday. Nineteen firetrucks and 39 firefighters were immediately dispatched to battle the blaze. Piles of plastic pellets and other

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Major global acrylics supplier ablaze in southern Taiwan

thick smoke is seen billowing from factory on fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A major global supplier of acrylic sheeting caught fire early this morning, and firefighters are still trying to bring the blaze under control at noon. According to reports, the Sumipex Techsheet Company factory in Nanzih Science and Technology Industrial Park caught fire after a suspected boiler explosion at around 7:38 am. The Kaohsiung City Fire Department dispatched 55 vehicles and 130 personnel to fight the fire. Thick smoke from the fire could be seen many kilometers away, and the Kaohsiung

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Explosion, fires in multiple residences caused by over-pressurization of gas lines: at least 2 injured

multiple apartments on fire in residential building. Firefighter ladder truck
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

An explosion followed by fires affecting multiple residences in an apartment complex in Hsinchu County this morning left at least two people injured, and was caused by over-pressurized gas lines, the local gas company said. Hsinchu County Fire Department received reports of an explosion, and reports of gas leaks and fires at multiple locations around Sanmin Road, Zhongzheng East Road, and Boai Street, in Zhubei City at around 8:00 am. HCFD said that it had recorded 15 cases of gas

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Witness says metro train was stopped when crane fell onto tracks: train then drove into it

Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

A Canadian man who was aboard a Taichung metro train when one person was killed, and eight were injured in an accident, Wednesday, May 10, says that the train was stopped at a station when the crane boom fell onto the tracks. The man, who is unnamed in media reports, and described as a foreign English teacher, gave a doorstop interview as he stepped out of a hospital where he was treated for an abrasion to his head suffered when,

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At least 7 dead after factory fire in Changhua County

aerial view of factory fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Seven people died and three are critically injured after a fire at a food company factory in Changhua County this morning, Tuesday, April 25. The Changhua County Fire Department received a report of a fire at the Lian Hwa Foods factory in Beidou Township at 6:45 am. The fire department dispatched 31 fire trucks, 21 ambulances, and a total of 106 personnel from fire stations in Beidou, Erlin, Xizhou, Yuanlin, and other districts. Firefighters deployed water lines and the fire

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