Major global acrylics supplier ablaze in southern Taiwan

thick smoke is seen billowing from factory on fire

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment factory fire, Kaohsiung City

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

medical personnel and patient celebrate 50 year transplant survivor

Health and Safety

July 13, 2023July 13, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hsinchu County, National Taiwan University Hospital

A hospital in Hsinchu held a birthday party for an 81-year-old man to celebrate the 50th anniversary of him receiving a kidney transplant, and it was revealed that the kidney he carries is now 115 years old. National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch held a press conference as part of the celebration to share the story of Taiwan’s longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient, Chen Ming-hsiung and the pioneering surgical team who performed some of the first organ transplants in Taiwan. Tsai

travel advisory for Taiwan showing edits

International Relations

July 12, 2023July 12, 2023 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments US State Department

The US State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs updated its Travel Advisory for Taiwan, yesterday, Tuesday, July 11, maintaining the original level one “exercise normal precautions,” but removing two references to “country,” replacing it with “Taiwan.” Previous to the July 11 edit, the advisory read: “Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Taiwan,” and “Review the Country Security Report for Taiwan.” These sentences have been changed to “Read the Taiwan International Travel Information for additional information

men surround armed man who attacked woman with knife

Violent Crimes

July 10, 2023July 18, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment knife-attack, Taitung

A woman is recovering in hospital after a man followed her out of a convenience store and attacked her with a knife before being subdued by passersby in Taitung City yesterday, Sunday, July 9. According to reports, a 26-year-old woman, named Jiang, walked out of a convenience store on Zhongxing Road, Section 2 at around 12:15 pm. Surveillance footage of the incident showed that the suspect, a 50-year-old man, named Chang, followed Jiang across a zebra crossing before pouncing on

Health and Safety

July 3, 2023July 4, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment battery-fire, child-safety

A ten-year-old boy in New Taipei City is likely to require skin graft surgery after a smart watch he was wearing exploded and caught fire, Friday, June 30. According to reports, the boy was on his way to a cram school in Tucheng District Friday afternoon when his watch suddenly exploded and instantly ignited. A street vendor immediately came to the boy’s assistance and applied ointment to the resulting wound, and the boy continued to the cram school. Once he

woman on YouBike on National Highway 1 in New Taipei City

Odd News

July 3, 2023July 3, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment freeway, national highway, New Taipei City

A South African national was fined for riding a bicycle on National Highway 1 in New Taipei City last week, after she was allegedly guided onto the freeway by her smartphone. Police received reports of a woman seen riding a bicycle on the freeway headed northbound between Linkou and Wugu on Tuesday, June 27, at around 7:00 pm, A 24-year-old South African resident was stopped by police around 10 minutes later. The police officers took the errant cyclist back to

Car hoisted out of the water after crashing into fishing harbor

Traffic Accidents

July 2, 2023July 2, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hsinchu City, migrant workers, Nanliao Fishing Port

Two men suspected to be undocumented migrant workers escaped from a sinking car and ran away after driving the car at high speed into Nanliao Fishing Port in Hsinchu City on Friday night. Police and firefighters responded to reports of a vehicle crashing into the water at the port at 8:22 pm, June 30. Witnesses at the scene said that two men escaped from the driver’s window immediately following the crash. The men were reported to have swum to shore

Russian navy frigate off east coast of Taiwan

Military Affairs

June 28, 2023June 28, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment east-coast, navy

Two Russian navy ships were seen just 26 nautical miles from Taiwan’s east coast yesterday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed last night. Fisherman reported seeing the two Russian frigates while working east of Dong’ao in Yilan County yesterday. It is quite rare for Russian ships to appear in the area, especially so close to Taiwan’s 24-mile contiguous zone. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed the reports, saying the the ships sailed north to south and left Taiwan’s response area

Fire

June 24, 2023June 24, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gas explosion, Hsinchu County, residential fire, Zhubei City

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

Odd News

June 23, 2023June 23, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment gourmet food

A man in Taiwan has been experimenting with eating cockroaches, and shared recipe ideas with members of culinary art Facebook group. Sun Kuocheng was interviewed by China Times after a video of him consuming a cockroach omelet went viral on social media. Sun said that when he first shared his ideas for cockroach omelet with the culinary art Facebook group, other members didn’t believe that he actually ate cockroaches, so he made the video as proof that cockroaches could really

Marine and Fisheries Violent Crimes

June 21, 2023June 21, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment fishing industry, Port of Kaohsiung

A man was arrested when a fishing boat docked in Kaohsiung, 47 days after he is suspected of stabbing a fellow crewman to death on the Taiwanese-flagged vessel while operating in the Indian Ocean. The Criminal Investigation Bureau revealed yesterday, Tuesday, June 20, that an investigation was launched after it was reported that a Vietnamese crew member on the Taiwanese fishing vessel Fengguo No. 616 had stabbed an Indonesian crew member to death during an argument while the ship was

Major global acrylics supplier ablaze in southern Taiwan

Longest-surviving kidney transplant patient in Taiwan has a 115-year-old kidney

US State Department updates Taiwan Travel Advisory: removes the word “country”

Woman rescued by passersby after suspected random knife attack in Taitung City

10-year-old suffers 2nd-degree burns after smart watch explodes on his arm

South African national fined for riding YouBike on freeway

2 men escape sinking car and run away after crashing into fishing port

Russian warships appear off Taiwan’s east coast

Explosion, fires in multiple residences caused by over-pressurization of gas lines: at least 2 injured

Taiwanese man creates culinary masterpiece: cockroach omelet

Murder on the high seas: fishing boat crew 47 days at sea with alleged killer locked in hold