Disaster

Magnitude 6.4 earthquake in southern Taiwan leaves 27 injured: no fatalities reported

damaged building in Tainan City
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

At least 27 people were injured, some buildings have collapsed or been damaged, and water and electricity outages have been reported after a series of earthquakes struck southern Taiwan shortly after midnight today, January 21. A 6.4 magnitude earthquake centered in Dapu Township, Chiayi County struck at 12:17 am, rocking the whole island of Taiwan, and was felt as far away as the northern Philippines and southern islands of Japan. The initial earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks

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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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At least 9 dead after hospital fire in typhoon-ravaged south Taiwan

ambulances outside hospital as smoke fills the air
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Nine people are confirmed dead, and one remains missing, after a fire sent smoke billowing through a hospital in Pingtung County, Taiwan, this morning, Thursday, October 3. Pingtung County Fire Department received reports of a fire at the Antai Tian-Sheng Memorial Hospital in Donggang Township at 7:40 am. The fire department dispatched 46 vehicles and 116 personnel to the scene of the fire. Firefighters discovered the source of the fire in a power distribution room on the second floor. Thick

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Typhoon Gaemi hits Taiwan’s east coast: mother dead, child critical after brick wall falls 6 floors onto car

damaged car and fallen debris with firetruck in attendence
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A woman died, and child was critically injured, when a section of brick wall collapsed in Hualien City earlier this evening, landing on a car stopped at an intersection. Video footage of the incident showed a sheet-metal structure on the roof of a six-storey building being blown away by strong winds before a section of brick wall fell onto the road below. The slab landed on the rear section of a small, white sedan that had just come to a

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2 dead, 3 injured after scaffolding collapse at construction site in southern Taiwan

collapsed scaffolding at construction site
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Two people died and three were injured after scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Yunlin County this afternoon, Saturday, July 6. According to reports, the scaffolding collapse occurred at the Formosa Advanced Technology Company (FATA/Fumao Technology TW:8131) in Henan Street, Doulio City at 4:12 pm. Yunlin County Fire Department dispatched six fire trucks, six ambulances, and 31 personnel to the scene of the accident. Firefighters found 15 people trapped under the collapsed scaffolding. A 40-year-old man was dead, having

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Boulder severs tracks on Taiwan’s east coast line: frequent landslides affect road and rail links since April 3 earthquake

boulder severs railway tracks
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Taiwan Railways reopened two-way traffic July 3, following a landslide that blocked road and rail links between Yilan and Hualien July 1, but traffic is reduced to a single line again today after a massive boulder fell onto tracks in the landslide-affected area. Railway personnel reported that a huge boulder fell onto the railroad, severing train tracks between Heren and Chongde train stations at 6:21 am today, July 4. Passengers travelling on the line were told to expect 15-20 minute

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Train derails after landslide on Taiwan’s east coast: passengers evacuate in tunnel

passengers evacuate train in tunnel
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

The driver of an intercity express train and six passengers suffered minor injuries after a train derailed following a landslide at the entrance of a tunnel on Taiwan’s east coast line late this afternoon, Friday, June 21. According to reports, the Ziqiang Express EMU 3,000 express train, service number #229, was hit by rocks as it passed through the Heren Tunnel between Heren and Chongde Stations in Hualien County’s Xiulin Township at 4:50 pm. Pictures and video uploaded to social

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Three dead after charging battery causes residential fire in New Taipei City

firefighters battle fire in New Taipei City
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

Three people died after a lithium-ion battery caught fire and exploded while charging, setting fire to a residence in New Taipei City’s Tucheng District early this morning, June 13. New Taipei City Fire Department received reports of a fire on the fourth floor of a 7-storey residential building in a lane on Yanshou Road at 3:32 am. NTCFD dispatched 50 vehicles and 136 personnel to deal with the fire. Firefighters cut iron bars on a balcony to rescue a man

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Hillside collapses onto highway in northern Taiwan: 2 minor injuries

aerial view of landslide in Keelung City
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Two people were rescued and sent to hospital after a hillside collapsed onto the coastal highway at a popular scenic spot in Keelung City today, Monday, June 3. According to reports, the landslide occurred at 2:28 pm at the corner of Zhongzheng Road (Highway 2) and Chaojing Park Road. Boulders, rocks, and soil completely covered the highway and a carpark on the opposite side. Two people were rescued from one of the parked cars and sent to Chang Gung Memorial

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Two firefighters dead: hundreds rescued from residential building fire. Many still trapped

firefighting appliances and ambulances
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Two firefighters are dead, and one resident of an apartment building was injured, after hundreds of people were evacuated from a smoke-filled residential building in Hsinchu City last night. The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at a condominium complex in East District at 10:55 pm Sunday, May 26. Fire bureau personnel arrived at the scene and found the source of the fire to be electrical cables producing a large amount of thick smoke. The fire was

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Plastics factory burns all night, prompting air pollution warning in Tainan City

fire destroys factory in Tainan City
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Firefighters are still battling a blaze in Tainan City, more than 12 hours after a plastics factory caught fire Monday night. The Tainan City Government Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at the factory in Jiali District at around 9:50 pm. TCGFB dispatched vehicles and personnel from five fire stations in surrounding districts to extinguish the fire. Firefighters were confronted by a fierce blaze fueled by a large amount of petrochemical and plastics raw materials, which completely consumed the

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