Disaster

Quarantine death hotel building to be demolished

Qiaoyou Building Changhua City
Disaster 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The building that housed a hotel used for COVID-19 quarantine until four people died in a fire after being told to stay put in their rooms will be demolished by the end of the year, the Changhua County Government announced yesterday, February 15. In June 2021, a fire broke out in the empty bottom floors of the building, leading to the death of three quarantined hotel “guests,” and a firefighter who went to their assistance after hotel managers told them

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1 dead, 3 injured after residential gas explosion in New Taipei City

firefighters in debris-filled alley
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

One woman died, and three other people were injured after a gas explosion in a New Taipei City apartment early this morning, February 14. Residents in the vicinity of Xinming Street in Xindian District were awoken by a loud explosion at 4:14 am. Firefighters responded to reports of the explosion and fire in a fourth-floor apartment of a 5 storey building. The fire was brought under control and extinguished at 4:29 pm. A 46-year-old woman, named Zhou was found in

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Hsinchu County shaken by 10 earthquakes so far today

map showing earthquake areas
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

While Taiwan is prone to frequent earthquakes, the relatively geologically stable Hsinchu County has experienced 10 small earthquakes today, the strongest with a magnitude of 3.7. All of the quakes occurred within a small radius around Emei Township. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau an earthquake of magnitude 3.3 occurred in Emei Township at 10:44 am. The earthquake’s intensity was felt as a level 3 in Guanxi, and 2 in Hsinchu City, Zhunan, and parts Miaoli County. Another quake followed

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Two whale watching boats destroyed by fire in Hualien County port

whale watching boats on fire
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

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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Tech factory fire takes 9 hours to extinguish

fire fighter ladder water spray
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

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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Factory destroyed by violent fire in Changhua County

aerial view of factory fire in Changhua County
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A factory producing plastic foam flooring material was completely razed to the ground after what firefighters described as a “violent fire” in Changhua County today, December 10. Changhua County Fire Department received reports of the fire in Renli Village, Tianwei Township, at 2:07 pm. The fire department dispatched teams from six fire stations, with a total of 33 fire trucks and 69 personnel to battle the blaze.  A large quantity of flammable plastic and petrochemical raw materials, combined with windy

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Taiwan’s first earthquake for 2022 a magnitude 6: some minor damage, no casualties reported

earthquake report 001 2022
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Rockfalls, minor damage to some buildings, and power and water cuts were reported after a magnitude 6 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County this evening, Monday, January 3. The tremblor struck at 5:46 pm, 56.7 kilometers east of Hualien County Hall at a depth of 19.4 kilometers, according to Earthquake Report 001 of the Central Weather Bureau, marking the first recorded earthquake for 2022. With a magnitude of 6 at the epicenter, the strongest level felt on land

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Gas explosion injures 1, destroys shop in Taichung City

firefighters at scene of explosion
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A braised foods vendor was injured when a gas explosion destroyed her store in Taichung City’s North District this morning, January 2. The 43-year-old woman, named Ni, was preparing to open her store on Meiting Street when the explosion occurred at around 8:00 am. According to a preliminary investigation, an improperly closed gas cylinder caused an accumulation of gas in the store. When Ni lit a stove, the gas was ignited. Ni was knocked over as windows shattered on the

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Explosion at key defense aerospace company kills 1, injures 6

fire trucks and firefighters
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

An explosion and fire at one of Taiwan’s key defense prime aerospace facilities left one person dead and six injured today, Wednesday, December 29. At 10:12 am, an explosion at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation facility shook buildings in the surrounding Xitun District, in Taichung City. According to reports, a dust explosion occurred due to an accumulation of aluminium alloy dust in a dust collection area. Taichung City Fire Department dispatched units from Zhonggang, Shuinan, Xitun, Liming and other fire

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Parts of Tainan City plunged into darkness after 4.6 magnitude earthquake causes power outage in southern Taiwan

earthquake map and blackout composite image
Earthquakes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

More than 10, 000 households were affected by a power outage following a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Tainan City this evening, but no other damage was reported. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, the tremblor struck 36.4 kilometers east-northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 9.4 kilometers at 6:59 pm. The highest intensity was felt in Nanxi, and Xinhua districts of Tainan City at a level four. A power outage followed due to a trip at the Nanhua

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