This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36136712
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Taiwan water park fire: Party organiser jailed for negligence | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The organiser of water park party in Taiwan, where a fireball caused by igniting paint powder killed 15 people, has been found guilty of negligence. | |
Most of the victims of the 27 June disaster were young people, some of whom suffered burns to 40% of their bodies. | |
Lu Chung-chi, the owner of Colour Play Asia, was jailed for four years and 10 months. | Lu Chung-chi, the owner of Colour Play Asia, was jailed for four years and 10 months. |
Taiwanese media said Lu could appeal against the conviction. | Taiwanese media said Lu could appeal against the conviction. |
More than 500 people were also injured at Formosa Water Park outside Taipei when the coloured powder, which was being sprayed over the crowd, caught fire. | |
Video footage from the day showed people dancing in front of a stage and cheering as clouds of green and yellow powder covered them. The powder abruptly burst into flames, engulfing partygoers in an inferno with no way of escaping. | |
Investigators found the corn starch powder had come into contact with intensely hot stage lighting, setting it on fire. | |
Judge Kuo Hui-ling at Shihlin district court said Lu had failed to take the proper precautions to prevent this and had not ensured technicians spraying the powder were sufficiently trained. | |
The BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei said the fire was one of a string of man-made disasters in Taiwan in a two-year period, which raised questions about the poor adherence to safety. | |
The court released a statement after the verdict paying tribute to the victims, saying many of their "wonderful lives were about to start". | |
"Because of the explosion, 15 of them lost their lives and most of the survivors suffer tremendous physical and emotional pain and torment," AFP quoted the statement as saying. | |
One woman who said her son had suffered 55% burns was among those saying the sentence was too short. | |
The maximum sentence in Taiwan for workplace negligence leading to deaths is five years. |