Disaster

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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1 dead 2 injured in migrant worker dormitory fire

man jumps from second floor to escape fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A female migrant worker died and two people were injured after a fire engulfed a dormitory in Changhua City late last night, Sunday, March 19. Changhua County Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at a three-storey residential building on Zhangnan Road at 10:54 pm. The fire bureau dispatched 21 vehicles and 45 personnel to the scene of the fire. According to the preliminary investigation, a the fire started on the first floor of the building and four people were

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More than 500 people evacuated after kitchen fire in luxury hotel

smoke from fire at Hotel Royal Ch
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Three people sought medical treatment for smoke inhalation, and more than 500 guests, visitors, and staff were evacuated from a luxury hot springs hotel in Yilan County last night after a fire broke out in a basement-level kitchen. Yilan County Fire Department received reports of a fire at the Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi in Jiaoxi Township at around 7:30pm yesterday, Thursday, March 9. The hotel’s marketing and public relations manager told media that all 438 guests, 30 restaurant customers, and

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Factory fire leads to school evacuation, classes suspended for one day

Plume of thick, black smoke from fire at tire recycling plant
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

An elementary school was evacuated yesterday, and classes will be suspended today, after a fire in a nearby tire recycling factory emitted a plume of thick, black, toxic-smelling smoke in Bali District, New Taipei City. The New Taipei City Fire Department received reports of a fire at the Xianxiang Technology Company tire recycling factory on Guanhai Avenue at 1:52 pm. 72 vehicles and 155 personnel were dispatched to deal with the fire. Four employees were sent to hospital with minor

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148 schools report damage after 6.4, 6.8 magnitude quakes strike Taiwan

damaged elementary school after earthquake
Earthquakes 
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Taiwan’s Ministry of Education reported that 148 schools around the country had reported damage after a series of earthquakes struck the east coast over the weekend, with two quakes over magnitude 6. More than 140 earthquakes have shaken Taiwan since the first, a magnitude 6.4 tremblor, struck in the north of Taitung County Saturday evening. More than 70 aftershocks were felt Saturday night and Sunday before a destructive 6.8 magnitude quake struck in Chishang Township at 2:44 pm. As of

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