Author: Phillip Charlier

Water buffalo wanders onto train tracks in Hualien County

buffalo on train tracks in Hualien County, Taiwan
Animals 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Express trains were ordered to slow down, but no major delays were reported after a water buffalo wandered onto the tracks in Fuli Township, Hualien County this morning. According to Taiwan Railways Administration, the station master on duty at Dongzhu Station spotted the buffalo on the tracks as it trotted by the station platform at 6:25 am. The station master notified the local police station, and railway police stationed at Yuli. Police officers drove the buffalo off the tracks and

Read more

900kg amphetamine haul bound for Taiwan intercepted in Thailand

Thai police display drugs at press conference
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

Police in Thailand intercepted a close to one-ton haul of amphetamines bound for Taiwan hidden in floor tiles at a port in Bangkok two days ago, Thai police revealed at a press conference yesterday, December 4. The intercept was the result of a joint investigation by Thai and Taiwanese police agencies, media reports in Taiwan said today. Thailand Customs said that the drugs were hidden in silicon floor tiles, with each of 161 tiles being filled with 4.5 to 6

Read more

6 injured after drag race car plows into spectators

composite image of moment before accident and aftermath
Breaking News 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

At least six people were injured when a car slid sideways into a crowd watching a drag race in Yunlin County today, December 4. Video footage of the incident shows the wheels of a white Mercedes Benz spinning and smoking at the start of a race, and the driver apparently losing control before sliding into the crowd sideways and in reverse. The accident happened at around 4:20 pm. According to reports, six people were injured. Among the injured, some were

Read more

Unexploded bomb found at New Taipei City construction site

unexploded military ordnance on construction site
Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Workers on a construction site in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City uncovered an unexploded military bomb while working on soil preparation today, December 4. The New Taipei City Fire Department received a report that workers had dug up unexploded military ordnance at 12:26 pm. Firefighters cordoned off the site with barricade tape and contacted the army’s Keelung Unexploded Ordnance Team to arrange for removal and destruction of the bomb.

Read more

Good conduct trumps good homework: student praised for taking responsibility for accident

student squats to write a note after accidentally damaging scooter
Society 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

The owner of a scooter damaged when a junior high school student accidentally bumped into it while cycling to school this morning declined compensation, saying that the happiness he felt at witnessing the young man’s exemplary conduct was worth far more than a cracked fender. Somewhere in Taiwan at around 6:50 am today, the student, named Chen, was cycling to school, when heavy traffic compelled him to ride too far to the left, and he bumped into a scooter parked

Read more

When fear of infection overcomes rationality: three charged for quarantine hotel fire deaths

Qiaoyou building fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

The operator and two staff of a hotel used for quarantine have been indicted on charges of negligent homicide, and negligent injury, following an inquiry into a fire in a building that left four people dead and 22 injured in Changhua City, Taiwan, June 2021. See previous story: Four dead including one firefighter in COVID quarantine hotel fire The Changhua District Prosecutor’s Office charged Cai Jinfeng, Shen Yiqian, and Wu Songrong, after finding that they did not immediately notify the

Read more

Police officer on duty dies in traffic accident in Taichung City

scene of accident
Traffic Accidents 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A police officer riding a scooter while on duty in Taichung City, died after running into a car that crossed double white lines, yesterday, December 1. The 39-year-old officer, named Han, was passing a gas station on Huanzhong Road in Xitun District at around 4:00 pm when a 25-year-old woman, named Chiang, drove straight from a left-turn only lane, and crossed double white lines to get to the gas station. Han appears to have been unable to stop in time,

Read more

NT$8 purchase wins NT$10 million in Taiwan’s free invoice lottery

receipts issued at stores in Taiwan
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance announced the list of winners of the September/October Uniform Invoice Lottery today, revealing that one of the winners of the Special Prize of NT$10 million (US$360,415) had spent just NT$8 (US$0.29) to get the winning ticket. The Uniform Invoice winning numbers were issued on November 25, with 13 people winning the special prize of NT$10 million each, after being issued the receipt number 14872301 (the number also has a two-letter alphabetic code unique to the business

Read more

Express train hit by steel rail raises spectre of past disaster

taroko train at scene of accident
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A windscreen was damaged, but no injuries were reported, after a steel rail from a trackside construction project fell onto the tracks and hit a train in New Taipei City this morning, Tuesday, December 1. Taiwan Rail Administration (TRA) reported that the Taroko class express train was hit by a steel rail at 8:52 am between Dali and Fulong stations, causing the windscreen to be cracked. The steel rail fell from a slope stabilization project around 7-8 meters away from

Read more

18-year-old student drops dead in university pool hall: family suspects COVID shot

Emergency Medical Team arrives at university pool hall
Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

An 18-year-old man in good health and physical condition suddenly collapsed and died while playing pool at a university billiards club in southern Taiwan yesterday, and the man’s family suspects his death may be related to a COVID-19 vaccine. According to reports, the student of Nanhua University was in the middle of a game of pool at a billiards club at National Chung Cheng University when he suddenly collapsed at around 7:30 pm, yesterday, November 29. Witnesses at the pool

Read more