Although the blaze released chemicals into the air, the fire at a fertilizer plant in Taichung on Sunday did not cause any significant damage to the quality of the air or water in nearby areas, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.
The fire injured at least 16 people and caused a great amount of financial losses. Although the fire was extinguished, it spontaneously re-ignited yesterday morning, before being put out again.
The EPA's air quality report yesterday suggested that levels of chemicals in the air remained normal, and public anxiety over the fire would eventually subside. The monitoring data collected yesterday morning showed that levels of methanol, ammonia, and ethylene that were released into the air are all at "acceptable levels."
In addition, EPA officials said that the accidental release of toxic chemicals would not lead to the formation of acid rain. EPA chief Chang Kuo-lung (
Yesterday, two filtering systems in nearby rivers were established. Seven trucks collected sludge from the rivers and sent them to sewage plants for treatment. EPA officials said that the yellow color in the rivers is normal because decomposition of nitrate released from the factory had been processed in water.
The pH level of river water also remained at "acceptable levels," the EPA said. Since the river water is not source for drinking water, the public should remain calm, officials added. However, agricultural agencies in charge of irrigation management will be closely monitoring the river in the near future.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
"Results from the monitoring of the the environmental impact in the next three days will be immediately available to the public," Hu said.
People who suffer from respiratory illnesses may experience further breathing problems as a result of the air pollution, official said.
On Sunday, fire fighters and reporters close to the scene experienced respiratory problems as a result of the blaze.
Hu noted that there are 25 other chemical factories in the industrial complex where the fire broke out, and the government inspect these facilities to prevent further fires.
The city government also reviewed its capability to deal with chemical leaks and planned to purchase more specially equipped trucks which are designed to handle chemical spills.
The EPA also yesterday held a disaster-prevention drill at the Taichung Science Park to deal with accidents involving toxic chemical spills. More than 200 rescue workers from 25 units, the police, the army and hospitals participated in a drill in the event of a major chemical spill in the future.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday. National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes. Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said. The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS