Last 10 seconds of train dashcam shows driver had just a few seconds to react before derailment disaster

April 6, 2021April 7, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, train accident, train derailed

A video shown by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) at a press conference today showed that the driver of a train that derailed and crashed Friday had barely 3 seconds to react to an obstacle on the track. The 10-second video shows the train exiting from a tunnel and rounding a curve before a truck that had rolled onto the track comes into view at the six-second mark. The train is then seen colliding with the truck at 9

Disaster

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment east-coast, Taiwan Railway Administration, train accident, train derailed

The aftermath of a train crash and derailment in Hualien County was a “purgatory on earth” said an exhausted member of a search and rescue team, as as he exited the tunnel at the end of a long shift. “I have served on many rescue missions, but this is the first time I shed tears.” On the evening of April 2, 2021, around 9 hours after a packed-to-capacity express train travelling at more than 100 kilometers per hour smashed into

Disaster

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, train accident, train derailed

At least 48 people are dead, and more than 70 injured after an express train derailed in a tunnel on Taiwan’s east coat near Hualien City this morning, April 2. The number 408 Ziqiang express train from Shulin to Taitung City derailed as it was entering the Qingshui Tunnel between Chongde and Heren stations at 9:28 am. More than 350 people were aboard the 8-carriage train, which was fully booked as today is the first day of 4-day holiday for

Fire

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Alishan, Chiayi County, wildfire

The Chiayi Forest Management Office has advised the public to avoid highway 18 and use the alternative route 21 due to a wildfire and rockfalls that have blocked the road between the 68 and 69 kilometer mark. Firefighters have been fighting a difficult battle with a blaze in steep terrain below the road since yesterday afternoon, March 18. Fire fighting crews were dispatched from several local fire stations at around 2:00 pm yesterday. A National Airborne Service helicopter was also

Business and Economy Fire

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment factory fire, Taoyuan City

Printed circuit board (PCB) and integrated circuit (IC) manufacturer Unimicron Technology Corporation (TWSE: 3037) saw its stock price plummet this early this afternoon after a fire at its Taoyuan City factory at noon today, February 4. The Taoyuan City Fire department dispatched 42 vehicles and more than 100 personnel to the Shanying plant in Guishan District after thick black smoke was reported pouring out of the plant. According to reports, the fire started on the second floor of a building where

Fire

January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment chemical hazard, factory fire, Kaohsiung City, pollution

Firefighters in Kaohsiung City worked through the night to extinguish a fire at a chemical plant in the Linyuan Industrial Park after an explosion and fire was reported at around 8:30 pm yesterday evening, January 29. Thirty-six vehicles and 75 personnel were dispatched from 14 fire stations to battle the blaze at the UPC Technology Corporation (1313.TW) plasticizer plant on Gongye 2nd Road. The fire destroyed around 300 square meters containing plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and phthalic anhydride (PA) production

Fire

January 15, 2021January 15, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Kaohsiung City, residential fire

Three members of a family died after a fire in a four storey residential building in Kaohsiung City in the early hours of the morning today, January 15. The Kaohsiung City fire department responded to reports of a fire in Fengshan District at 4:44 am. Twenty-eight vehicles and 62 personnel were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found a 33-year-old woman named Wu, holding a one-year-old infant, on a balcony on the third floor calling for help. Firefighters raised

Fire

December 20, 2020February 25, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment factory fire, hydroxychloroquine, Taoyuan City

A fire that started after an explosion at the SCI Pharmtech factory in Taoyuan City shortly after noon today continues to burn this evening, and has spread to five neighboring factories. Large quantities of highly volatile solvents poured out of tanks after the initial explosion, making an intense fire, with risk of further explosions. These conditions prevented firefighters from approaching the main fire this afternoon. Strong winds generated by the northeast monsoon, and a sudden change in wind direction caused

Fire

December 20, 2020January 18, 2022 Phillip Charlier 5 Comments explosion, factory fire, hydroxychloroquine, Taoyuan City

An explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Taoyuan City left two injured and caused a fire early this afternoon, December 20. People as far as Tamsui District in New Taipei City reported hearing the massive blast shortly after noon. Immediately after the blast, thick black smoke could be seen pouring out of the SCI Pharmtech factory. Firefighters responding to the fire found two people injured. A 30-year-old foreign migrant worker suffered third-degree burns to 80%-90% of his body, and is

Earthquakes

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment earthquake

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake with an epicenter close to the coast of northeastern Taiwan was felt all over the island, and constitutes the biggest to hit Taiwan this year, according to data from the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). [Note: Taiwan uses moment magnitude scale: international sources using Richter scale are reporting magnitude 6.1] The earthquake, with an epicenter 27.2 kilometers east of Yilan County Hall, 24.74 degrees north latitude and 122.03 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 76.8 kilometers

Fire

November 8, 2020November 8, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gas explosion, Tainan City

Four people were injured in Tainan City when a gas explosion and fire destroyed a self-service laundry in Tainan City yesterday evening, November 7. The Tainan City Fire Bureau received reports of an explosion and fire at a laundromat on Da-ren Street, Yongkang District at 9:29 pm. Twenty-six vehicles and 56 personnel were dispatched to the scene of the explosion. Three men and one woman were found injured. The most seriously injured was a 65-year-old man who suffered burns to

Disaster

Last 10 seconds of train dashcam shows driver had just a few seconds to react before derailment disaster

Taiwan train crash a “Hell on Earth:” even experienced search and rescue personnel brought to tears

Express train crashes and derails in east coast tunnel: Dozens dead

Wildfire, rockfalls block highway 18 in Chiayi County

Unimicron stock drops as factory suffers second fire in three months

Firefighters work overnight battling chemical factory fire in Kaohsiung City

Three family members dead after residential fire in Kaohsiung City

Pharma factory fire spreads to 5 other factories and may not be extinguished until tomorrow

Pharmaceutical factory on fire after explosion: 2 injured

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake the biggest to strike Taiwan this year

Laundromat gas explosion injures 4 in Tainan City