Oil spill from sunken freighter contaminates popular bathing beach in southern Taiwan

August 27, 2023August 27, 2023 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment Kaohsiung City, oil spill, pollution, Port of Kaohsiung, shipping accident

Beachgoers at Cijin Beach in Kaohsiung City yesterday were affected by an oil slick suspected to have come from a container ship that sank off the coast more than one month ago. Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen was hosting an event promoting the wearing of lifejackets while beach bathing at around 3:00 pm when participants began reporting that they were affected by oil in the water and on the sand. Chen informed the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau and the Maritime

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

fallen scooter and tree in Kaohsiung City

Weather

June 1, 2023June 1, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Kaohsiung City, Typhoon Mawar

At least three people were injured as strong winds in the wake of Typhoon Mawar brought down trees and power poles in several districts of Kaohsiung City today, June 1. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau lifted a sea warning for Typhoon Mawar Wednesday evening as the tropical storm moved away from eastern waters towards Okinawa Japan. However, heavy rain and strong winds persisted in some parts of the island Thursday. At around 8:00 am in Kaohsiung City’s Lingya District, a tree

two police escort a handcuffed suspect charged with drunk driving

Odd News

May 19, 2023May 19, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment drunk driving, Kaohsiung City

A man in Kaohsiung City compounded his problems after driving to the police station while drunk to inquire about how much he would have to pay for a drunk driving fine he incurred the previous day. According to China Times, the 47-year-old man, named Chiou, was caught drunk driving on the morning of May 17. Chiou was tested and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22 mg/l. Chiou’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit of 0.15,

crane truck suspended in air after boom collapse

Health and Safety

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment construction industry, industrial accident, Kaohsiung City, workplace-safety, Xiaogang District

A mobile crane truck was left suspended in the air after the crane toppled over on a construction site in Kaohsiung City’s Xiaogang District this morning, but fortunately nobody was injured. According to a preliminary investigation by the Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau, the crane toppled over at around 8:45 am due to the outrigger not being placed on firm ground. Inspectors found that the operator had placed the outrigger on a drain cover, and the cover broke when the operator

Breaking News

October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment CPC, Dalin Oil Refinery, Kaohsiung City, refinery fire

A hydrogen leak at a hydro-desulfurization unit at the Dalin Refinery in Kaohsiung City last night caused an explosion and fire that left nearby residents so terrified that they are demanding the government relocate their village, according to reports this morning, October 28. Fortunately there were no casualties following the incident. The explosion and fire occurred at 10:35 pm at the CPC refinery on Zhonglin Road in Xiaogang District. The Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau dispatched 18 vehicles and 40 personnel

cement mixer truck after plunging off elevated road

Traffic Accidents

October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment Gushan District, Kaohsiung City, truck-accident

The driver of a cement mixer truck was rushed to hospital without vital signs, and two people on a scooter were slightly injured when the truck plunged off an elevated road in Kaohsiung City today, October 14. The Kaohsiung City Fire Department dispatched 7 vehicles and 16 personnel to the scene of the accident at the intersection of Cuihua Road and Zhonghua Road in Gushan District at 12:14 pm. Fire Department paramedics found the truck driver seriously injured and without

Health and Safety

June 26, 2022June 26, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment COVID-19, Kaohsiung City, medical, pharmaceutical industry, vaccine

An eight-year old boy was diagnosed with myocarditis two days after receiving the second dose of a COVID vaccine, and his condition may have been triggered by the vaccine, Taiwan’s Public Service Television (PTS) news reported yesterday, June 24. The second-grader in Kaohsiung City was administered the second dose of the Moderna shot on June 17, and developed a fever and chest pain on June 19. Doctors at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital diagnosed the boy as suffering from myocarditis and

Model T electric bus in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Business and Economy

June 24, 2022June 24, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment electric bus, electric vehicles, Kaohsiung City, ministry of transportation and communications

Kaohsiung City has the the largest proportion of electric buses in its public bus fleet accounting for 19.5% of the total, according to a Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) press release today, June 24. The Kaohsiung City Government assisted bus operators to obtain subsidies from the national government in order to reduce sources of mobile pollution. There are currently 195 electric buses plying routes in the city. At 19.5% of the overall bus fleet, Kaohsiung City won first place

excavator operator running for his life as silo collapses

Health and Safety

April 3, 2022April 3, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment industrial accident, Kaohsiung City

Video footage emerged today showing the driver of an excavator using a wrecking ball to demolish a silo in southern Taiwan abandoning his vehicle and running for his life as the 52-meter-tall structure started to fall in his direction yesterday, April 1. Contractors working on the demolition project at the Southeast Cement Corporation site in Nanzi District, Kaohsiung City appear to have seriously breached regulations and safety standards in the lead up to the accident, Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau said

Breaking News

April 1, 2022April 1, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment electric vehicles, Kaohsiung City, police, Tesla Motors, Tesla Taiwan

Police received two Tesla electric cars to be used as police cars at a handover ceremony in Kaohsiung City today, and they are the first Teslas to be used as police vehicles in Taiwan. Ching Chan Optical Technology and the Tianzhen Foundation donated the two Tesla Model 3 cars worth NT$3.3 million to help police with the work of detection and prevention of crime. One car will be used by the criminal investigation team in Hunei District, and the other