Author: Phillip Charlier

Hydrochloric acid spilled on freeway after tanker overturns

smoke rises from acid spill on freeway
Traffic Accidents 
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Firefighters sprayed water on the road surface to dilute hydrochloric acid that spilled from a tanker truck that overturned on National Highway 1 in Yunlin County today, January 17. Yunlin County Fire Department said that it received a report about an overturned chemical tanker in the northbound lanes of the freeway at the 241 kilometer mark at around 1:30 pm. Firefighters found the driver of the truck conscious and without serious injury. However, hydrochloric acid had leaked onto the road

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Two whale watching boats destroyed by fire in Hualien County port

whale watching boats on fire
Fire 
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Two whale watching boats docked at a port in Hualien County were completely destroyed after a fire broke out in the early hours of the morning today, January 17. The vessel “Sea Whale No.1” caught fire at around 3:30 am at Shiti Port in Fengbin Township. Coast Guard officers attempted to put out the fire using fire extinguishers, but were not able to bring the fire under control. Hualien County Fire Department dispatched three vehicles and four personnel to the

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China Airlines cargo plane aborts flight, makes precautionary emergency landing after engine problem

flight map
Aviation 
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A China Airlines 747 cargo plane circled and dumped fuel before returning to Taoyuan International Airport after reporting an engine problem shortly after take-off today, January 16. China Airlines cargo flight CI-5240 took off from Taoyuan Airport at 11:45 am bound for Anchorage, Alaska. According to a United Daily News report, airport ground crew reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames shoot from the outside right engine of the four-engine plane during take-off. A pilot in another plane waiting for

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Tech factory fire takes 9 hours to extinguish

fire fighter ladder water spray
Fire 
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Firefighters in Hsinchu County worked through the night to extinguish a fire that destroyed a three-storey building at a factory complex in Hukou Township, finally extinguishing the blaze shortly after 6:00 am. Hsinchu County Fire Department received reports of a fire at the Excelsior Technology Inc complex in Hsinchu Industrial Park shortly after 9:00 pm, yesterday, January 15. The fire department dispatched 33 vehicles and 78 personnel to battle the blaze. Specialist chemical disaster units were dispatched due to the

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Two new rapid minelaying boats inaugurated at Zuoying Naval Base

Military Affairs 
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President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the inauguration ceremony for two new rapid minelaying boats at Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung City today, December 14. The two boats will form the 1st and 2nd Mine Boat Squadrons of the 192nd Fleet (Minesweeper Fleet) of the ROC Navy. The navy spent NT$917.7 million to commission four of the vessels which were all delivered by Longteh Shipbuilding Company in 2021. President Tsai said that the shipbuilding program demonstrates Taiwan’s achievements in promoting the

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Hiking group attacked by hornets: 5 airlifted to hospital

NASC black hawk helicopter and ambulance
Health and Safety 
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Five members of a hiking group were airlifted to hospital after they were stung by hornets in a mountain district of Hualien County today, Thursday. The 11-member group had just departed on the first day of a planned 3-day hike to Dahui Mountain, and Nanerzi Mountain when the hornet attack occurred at around 11:00 am, 3.5 kilometers from the carpark at the trailhead near Xilin Village, Wanrong Township. The team leader used a satellite phone to make contact with emergency

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Viral madness: passenger makes self-protective COVID cocoon on long-haul flight

personal covid protection cocoon on plane
Odd News 
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Fellow passengers barely batted an eyelid when a man made an improvised social isolation tent to protect himself and his companions from possible viral infection on a flight from Los Angeles to Guangzhou, China, according to reports from Taiwan news outlets. The reports came after a Chinese citizen uploaded a picture of the incident on social media site Weibo. The picture was said to be taken on Monday, January 10. In the picture it can be seen that the passenger

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Gravel truck driver narrowly avoids plowing into car, rolling over on freeway

composite image of gravel truck with trailer wheels in air
Traffic Accidents 
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The driver of a gravel truck managed to avoid colliding with a car on National Highway 1 yesterday, but almost tipped his truck over in the process. A dashcam video uploaded to the PTT Bulletin Board quickly went viral today, drawing praise for the driver of the gravel truck, and condemnation for the driver of a black Volvo who cut across from the fast lane to reach a freeway exit ramp in Changhua County at 8:00 am, Tuesday. The gravel

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Motorcyclist dies after crashing, falling down 150-meter cliff on coastal highway

composite image of motorcycle and cliff
Traffic Accidents 
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A man was found dead on a beach 150 meters below his smashed motorcycle on the Su’ao-Hualien Highway this morning, January 12. According to reports in Apple Daily, and United Daily News, the 19-year-old man, named Lin, was driving from Hsinchu to his family’s home in Hualien yesterday evening, but did not show up at the expected time. Lin’s last contact was at 8:00 pm, when he said he had reached Heping Village. Early this morning, road maintenance workers called

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Air force F-16V fighter reported to have crashed at sea

Military Affairs 
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An ROC Air Force F-16V fighter aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of Chiayi County, according reports this afternoon, Tuesday, January 11. The single-seat F-16V No.6650 was conducting air-to-ground bombing training when it crashed into the sear near Dongshi Township at 3:23 pm. Coast Guard vessels and two military helicopters were immediately dispatched to search for the 28-year-old pilot, Captain Chen Yi. Air Force Command stated in a press release this afternoon that the fighter jet No. 6650

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