fire

4 migrant workers injured after fight leads to dormitory fire in southern Taiwan

migrant workers trapped on roof await rescue by firefighting ladder
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Four migrant workers were injured, two critically, and several were rescued after being trapped on the roof of a building, following a fire that was ignited when one of the men used a blowtorch as a weapon during an altercation at around midnight yesterday. The Changhua County Fire Department dispatched 14 fire trucks, five ambulances, and 46 personnel, after receiving reports of a fire at a textile company dormitory building in Hemei Township at 12:09 am, Thursday. A total of

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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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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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Blackouts in Taipei after substation fire, explosion

smoke seen rising in Wenshan District, Taipei City
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

Power and water outages were reported in districts of Taipei this morning after a fire at an electrical substation in Wenshan District. Electricity supplier Taipower was alerted to a sudden drop in electricity consumption at 9:50 am, indicating a problem somewhere in the power grid. Power outages were reported in Wenshan, Yonghe, Banqiao, and Xindian districts. Residents of Wenshan District reported hearing an explosion at the Wanlong Substation on Jinglong Road, before seeing flames and a pall of black smoke.

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Landfill fire spreads pollution over Greater Taipei Districts

landfill fire Bali District
Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A fire at a landfill site in New Taipei City’s Bali District has been burning for more than 30 hours, and foul-smelling smoke has been reported as far away as Zhonghe District. The fire was first reported at the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau landfill site at 7:00 am yesterday, and although flames have been doused, the pile of garbage continues to smolder this afternoon, March 1. Residents of Luzhou, Linkou, Wanhua, Banqiao, Yonghe, and Zhonghe districts have reported

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Multiple boats destroyed by fire at fishing port

fishing vessels on fire at Yanpu Fishing Port in Pingtung County Taiwan
Marine and Fisheries 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

At least seven boats were destroyed by fire in Yanpu fishing port in Donggang Township, Pingtung County yesterday, including five large ocean going long-liners. The fire started on a tuna fishing boat undergoing repairs in the port at around 4:00 pm, and in windy conditions, the fire quickly spread to other vessels. Electrical wires are suspected to be the cause of the fire, according to a report in Liberty Times. A pall of thick, black smoke could be seen as

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At least 5 dead, 50 injured after KTV fire in Taipei City: Alarms and sprinkler system were switched off

ktv building engulfed in smoke
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 5 Comments ,

Fifty four people were sent to hospital, and 5 have been declared dead after a fire at a popular KTV in Taipei City today, April 26. The Taipei City Fire Department dispatched 56 fire appliances, 23 ambulances, and 192 personnel to the Party World KTV on Linsen North Road in Zhongshan District after the fire was reported shortly before 11:00 am. According to the preliminary investigation, the fire broke out on the 5th floor of the 14-storey building, trapping people

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Gas explosion leaves 3 dead, 12 homes damaged

smoke is seen rising after a gas explosion and fire in Yilan County
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A married couple and their eight-month-old baby died after a massive residential gas explosion destroyed one house and damaged 12 in Su’ao Township, Yilan County, yesterday, March 9. At around 5:00pm, a massive blast tore through the neighborhood on Shengxian Road, shattering neighbor’s windows and causing buildings as far as 400 meters away to shake. “I thought it was an earthquake,” a nearby resident told an Apple Daily reporter. The resident saw smoke pouring out of the house and wanted

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Kindergarten Students Rescued From Roof After Being Trapped by Fire

children rescued using crane
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Twenty-five students and staff at a kindergarten in Tainan City were trapped on the roof of a three-storey building after a fire broke out on the first floor, today, May 18. At around 1:00pm, staff and students evacuated the building on Yongda Road, Yongkang District after it was filled with thick smoke. However, two teachers led 23 students from the second floor onto the roof. Fire units from Fuxing, Yongkang, Dawan, and Houjia rushed to the scene of the fire.

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Firefighters Busy as Tomb Sweeping Day Approaches

tomb sweeping fire
Society 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Tomb Sweeping Day (Ching Ming Festival) falls on April 5 this year, and as usual in the weeks preceding the festival, many families are getting in early to clean up family plots in cemeteries around Taiwan. In Ilan County alone, firefighters were called to 32 wildfires on the weekend of March 24-25, with 20 of the fires breaking out on Sunday. Ilan County Fire Bureau said that firefighters were exhausted. The bureau blamed carelessness, dry conditions, and wind, for the

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New Year Fireworks Suspected Cause of Fire in Miaoli County

firefighters in miaoli county, taiwan
Fire 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

[Picture: appropriated from Apple Daily, source unattributed] Two adjacent recycling centers went up in flames shortly after midnight in Miaoli County, New Years Day, 2018. Residents suspected fireworks were the cause of the conflagration, but the fire department said investigations were ongoing. At around 1:00 am this morning, firefighters responded to calls reporting a fire in Zhunan Township. Large amounts of waste paper, plastics, and other combustible materials created an intense blaze that spread quickly. Due to much of the

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