Sunday 28 June 2015

Hundreds Injured In Taiwan Water Park Blast

More than 500 people have been injured after an explosion and fire during a concert at a Taiwan water park.
The blast and ensuing blaze happened when a coloured powder being sprayed near a music stage ignited and turned into a fireball that swept through the 1,000-strong crowd.

Footage from the scene showed the stage on fire and crowds running away, some of them only dressed in swimwear.
Of those hurt, more than 80 are said to have been seriously injured.
There are reports some victims had suffered burns to more than 40% of their bodies.
Inflatable rubber dinghies were used to carry casualties away from the scene or used as makeshift beds to treat those injured.
A spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department said: "Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage."

Officials said the blaze at the Formosa Water Park, just outside the island's capital Taipei, was brought swiftly under control.
One eyewitness told local news channel CTI: "It started on the left side of the stage.
"At the beginning I thought it was part of the special effects of the party but then I realised there was something wrong and people started screaming and running."

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