Hsinchu City

Two firefighters dead: hundreds rescued from residential building fire. Many still trapped

firefighting appliances and ambulances
Fire 
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Two firefighters are dead, and one resident of an apartment building was injured, after hundreds of people were evacuated from a smoke-filled residential building in Hsinchu City last night. The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau received reports of a fire at a condominium complex in East District at 10:55 pm Sunday, May 26. Fire bureau personnel arrived at the scene and found the source of the fire to be electrical cables producing a large amount of thick smoke. The fire was

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Man sentenced to death for arson attack that left 8 of his family members dead

Hsinchu District Court
Violent Crimes 
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A man who was found guilty of setting fire to his family’s business and residence, resulting in the death of eight people, was sentenced to death by the Hsinchu District Court today, September 28. [See previous story: 8 family members dead after arson attack in Hsinchu City] The prosecutor told the court that Chen Yanxiang had financial problems due to the accumulation of debts, and had often quarreled with his parents over housework issues. At around 9:40 pm on June

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

Car hoisted out of the water after crashing into fishing harbor
Traffic Accidents 
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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

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Military reservists on 14-day refresher training course amid rising threats

army reservists armed on training march
Military Affairs 
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Members of Taiwan’s reserve military force embarked on a 10 kilometer march in Hsinchu City today as part of a 14-day refresher training course designed to keep them up to date and physical ready should they be needed for disaster relief or defense of the country. Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an paid tribute to the soldiers today, expressing gratitude for their service and providing refreshments for the troops. Mayor Kao said that in order to maintain peace and stability across

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8 family members dead after arson attack in Hsinchu City

fire engulfs tire shop and residence
Fire 
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Eight people are dead, including four children, after a man set fire to his family’s home in Hsinchu City last night, June 15. Hsinchu City Fire Department received reports of a fire at a residence and tire shop on Dongda Road shortly after 10:00 pm. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and the fire was fully extinguished at around 11:00 pm. Firefighters entered the building and found eight charred bodies in the second-floor residence. According to reports, among the dead

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Orangutan caught bullying barking deer at Hsinchu Zoo

orangutan swinging muntjac around by hind legs
Animals 
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Visitors to Hsinchu Zoo were shocked to see an orangutan swing a small deer around by the hind leg, and throw another deer from a height, yesterday, January 29. Video and photographs of the incident show the orangutan swinging the Reeve’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) in a wide arc, sometimes dragging it on the ground and hitting it against a tree trunk. Zoo administrators said that the two species had been living together for around one year without problems, and the

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Zoo reassures the public after child’s shoes spotted in Tiger pen

children's shoes floating in pond as tiger prowls by
Animals 
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A Hsinchu Zoo spokesperson reassured the public that no children had been eaten this weekend, after someone uploaded a picture of a pair of children’s shoes floating in a pond inside the tiger enclosure, December 11. A man named Peng uploaded the picture to a Hsinchu news group on Facebook yesterday, posing the question “Where’s the kid? I only see shoes next to the tiger.” A laughing emoticon showed the question was asked in jest. Hsinchu Zoo staff responded to

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Gravel truck driver dies in fire after crashing into chemical tanker

gravel truck on fire in Hsinchu City, Taiwan
Traffic Accidents 
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The driver of a gravel truck died after he was trapped in the burning cabin of his vehicle following a collision with a chemical tanker in Hsinchu City today, November 19. The driver of a chemical tanker carrying liquid ammonia was slowing to a stop for a red light on the West Coast Highway when a gravel truck driven by a 72-year-old man, named Chen, plowed into his vehicle from behind. The violent impact caused the tanker to tip over

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City government to disinfect parks, green spaces ahead of reopening

playground equipment disinfected for COVID-19
Health and Safety 
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The Hsinchu City Government will disinfect 125 parks and 26 green spaces around the city starting tomorrow ahead of an expected public influx into areas restricted to the public since May 19. Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien said today that will expand the city’s major disinfection before the epidemic alert downgrade so that people can access facilities with peace of mind. The Hsinchu City Environmental Protection Bureau will lead the disinfection efforts by deploying teams to spray trees, lawns, pathways, fitness facilities and playground

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Another record cannabis grow-op busted: Decriminalization “impossible” says MOJ

cannabis cultivation in Hsinchu City
Drugs 
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Hsinchu City police announced they had uncovered the largest indoor cannabis cultivation operation in history, and the Minister of Justice said that decriminalization of marijuana in Taiwan is “absolutely not possible” at a press conference today, May 7. The record marijuana haul, grown in a factory building, included 1,540 live cannabis plants, 7 kilograms of finished product, and 880 marijuana cigarettes. Police estimate the value of the haul at close to NT$500 million. Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) attended

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Monkey apes human behavior after zoo visitor drops iPhone

monkey using iPhone
Animals 
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Just a couple of weeks after a Formosan macaque was spotted apparently hard at work at his desk at Sun Yat-sen University, a Southeast Asian relative was recorded attempting to use an iPhone at Hsinchu Zoo, today, Sunday, February 21. Zoo visitors were amazed and delighted when a crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) picked up a gold-colored iPhone and began to swipe, tap, and stare at the device’s screen. The monkey’s behavior appeared to mimic that of humans, although, perhaps due

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