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Taiwan Water Park Blast Leaves Hundreds Injured Taiwan Water Park Blast Leaves Hundreds Injured
(about 3 hours later)
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. HONG KONG — Hundreds of people were injured at a water park in Taiwan on Saturday when a cloud of colored powder ignited in the air over a crowd during an event, erupting into a huge fireball.
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. No deaths were reported, but at least 516 people were injured, 194 seriously, including eight with life-threatening injuries, the island’s official Central News 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, 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. Video taken at the scene showed the flames erupting within 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 controlled, but not before hundreds were hurt, the agency said.
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. 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 were also urgently requesting other medical supplies needed to treat burns.
The victims were mostly from Taiwan, with only four people from mainland China and two citizens of other countries, the agency reported. They were being treated at 38 hospitals in the Taipei area, the agency said, citing Wang Zhe-chao, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Welfare. One 18-year-old woman, who was not identified, suffered burns on 90 percent of her body, the news agency reported.
Taiwan’s prime minister, Mao Chi-kuo, told reporters on Sunday that public events using airborne colored paint powder would be banned and that the government would set up a group to deal with the treatment and rehabilitation of people who were injured.
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.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 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. “I hope you give a reasonable explanation to all the families who have been hurt by this,” one commenter wrote on the site’s page.
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 Central News Agency reported that the person at the park responsible for 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 powder that Color Play Asia uses is made of cornstarch and food coloring, according to a post the company made on its Facebook account. The post added that its products were in line with standards set by SGS, which is a Geneva-based testing, inspection and verification company. No one at the company was available over the weekend to comment on whether Color Play Asia’s products did get SGS certification and whether that process also included tests for flammability. No one at the company immediately answered an email inquiry made on Sunday.
The water park, Formosa Fun Coast, is northwest of Taipei, the island’s capital. On Sunday, the park’s Facebook page showed a picture of a man with his hands clasped together as if in prayer.