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Taiwan Water Park Blast Leaves Hundreds Injured Taiwan Water Park Blast Leaves Hundreds Injured
(35 minutes later)
HONG KONG — Hundreds of people were injured at a water park in Taiwan on Saturday after a cloud of colored powder exploded in the air over a crowd during a live event, erupting into a huge fireball, the island’s official Central News Agency reported. HONG KONG — Hundreds of people were injured at a water park in Taiwan on Saturday when a cloud of colored powder exploded in the air over a crowd during a live event, erupting into a huge fireball, the island’s official Central News Agency reported.
No deaths were reported, but at least 516 people were injured, 194 seriously, including eight with life-threatening injuries, the agency reported. The injured, many suffering burns, were overwhelmingly young, in their teens or 20s or younger, according to a roster posted on the news agency’s website. No deaths were reported, but at least 516 people were injured, 194 seriously, including eight with life-threatening injuries, the agency reported. The injured, many suffering burns, were overwhelmingly young, in their 20s or younger, according to a roster posted on the news agency’s website.
Video taken at the scene showed the flames erupting among the crowd at the event, called “Color Play Asia.” People were shown carrying the injured from the scene in inflatable rafts. The explosion happened about 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday after nightfall, with video capturing people running from the scene, silhouetted by flames. The fire was quickly put under control, but not before hundreds were hurt, the agency said. Video taken at the scene showed the flames erupting among the crowd at the event, called Color Play Asia, about 8:30 p.m., after nightfall. People were shown carrying the injured from the scene in inflatable rafts, and others were shown running away, silhouetted by flames. The fire was quickly put under control, but not before hundreds were hurt, the agency said.
“Color Play Asia” bills itself as Asia’s biggest color party, an event where people dance to music while spraying each other with colored powder. A promotional video for the event on its Facebook page shows employees on a stage blasting colored spray onto the crowd. Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare said on its website that Taipei-area hospitals had many victims requiring skin grafts. The ministry said hospitals also put out urgent requests for other medical supplies needed to treat burns.
Most of the victims were Taiwanese, with three people from mainland China and three citizens of other countries, the agency reported. They were being treated in 21 hospitals in the Taipei area, the agency said. Color Play Asia bills itself as Asia’s biggest color party, an event where people dance to music while spraying each other with colored powder. A promotional video for the event on its Facebook page shows employees on a stage blasting colored powder onto the crowd.
The news agency reported that the person at the park responsible for live events, Lu Zhongji, 41, as well as two other employees, had been taken to a nearby police station for questioning. The police may charge several employees with negligence and public endangerment, the agency reported. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The victims were mostly Taiwanese, with only three people from mainland China and three citizens of other countries, the news agency reported. They were being treated at 21 hospitals in the Taipei area, the agency said.
The news agency reported that the person at the park responsible for live events, Lu Zhongji, 41, as well as two other employees, had been taken to a nearby police station for questioning. The police may charge several employees with negligence and public endangerment, the agency said. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
The water park, Formosa Fun Coast, is north of Taipei, the island’s capital city.The water park, Formosa Fun Coast, is north of Taipei, the island’s capital city.