Hundreds of people were injured last night when an inferno erupted during a party at the Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) water park in New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里).
An explosion occurred about 8:30pm after colored powder that was sprayed over "Color Play Asia" partygoers in front of a stage apparently exploded in the air, triggering a fire that was quickly brought under control.
Initial reports of about 200 people being injured rose to more than 500 by early this morning, with at least 200 reported in serious condition. The numbers rose as authorities tracked victims who had taken themselves to nearby hospitals or been transported by friends or other people.
Photo: EPA
New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) arrived at the scene at 10:20pm last night. Due to the large number of injured, Chu asked for ambulance support from Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung.
The New Taipei City government also used social messaging app Line to notify people about the incident and to urge them to avoid the park area.
Military personnel were deployed to help with rescue efforts at the park, where partygoers were using large inflatable swimming tubes and floats as stretchers to carry the injured from the park or tend to them until rescuers arrived.
Photo: AFP / Apple Daily / Miss Huang
Several victims, some of whom suffered burns over 40 percent of their bodies, were sent to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui District (淡水), Chang Kung Memorial Hospital in Linkou District (林口), both in New Taipei City, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Tianmu for emergency treatment.
Ministry of Health and Welfare spokesman Wang Che-chao (王哲超) early today said the injured were being treated at 43 hospitals in Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Keelung.
The ministry said on its Web site that many of the victims would require skin grafts and the hospitals had put out urgent requests for other supplies to treat severe burns.
Photo: CNA
It also said that the injured, who were mostly in their late teens and 20s, included at least 13 foreigners.
Witnesses described the scene as "hell" as a ball of fire ripped through the crowd, most of whom were clad only in bathing suits.
Video footage showed crowds of people dancing in front of a stage and cheering as clouds of green and yellow powder were shot into the air above their heads.
Photo: CNA
The cheers turned to screams when the powder suddenly erupted into flames, engulfing many.
Eyewitnesses said some of those who had been burned jumped into a nearby pool, seeking relief from the pain, while others were helped by bystanders who poured water over them.
Authorities said in addition to skin burns, many of those hurt had suffered injuries caused by burns to the respiratory organs from inhaling the powders.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident. Five people, including the event manager, have been detained by police and are being questioned.
“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," a spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department said.
Authorities have closed the park until further notice.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from