The organizer of Saturday’s "Color Play Asia" party at Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) apologized yesterday morning for the explosion and fire that led to massive injuries at the event on Saturday night, while promising to accept responsibility.
“We need to apologize to the families. I am very sorry that something like this happened,” local marketing firm head Lu Chung-chi (呂忠吉) said, referring to the incident in New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里).
“I will shoulder the ultimate responsibility,” Lu said at the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office in Taipei where he was questioned.
Photo: CNA
Lu and employees who were responsible for special effects and equipment at the party had been questioned overnight by authorities before being transferred to the prosecutors’ office in the morning.
Prosecutors are to investigate whether Lu knew that the colored powder was flammable and whether he had warned partygoers about the hazard.
In an earlier TV interview, Lu said that he used cornstarch colored with food dye to create the colored powder, adding that it was safe for the intended use.
Lu was released on bail of NT$1 million (US$32,121).
Meanwhile, DJ Alyshia .L, who hosted the event, apologized to her fans who attended the party because of her.
“I’m fine, but I almost died. I hope everyone is okay,” she said on Facebook. “I feel really sorry for my fans, and I am very sad that such a tragedy happened.”
She said that she felt like it was the end of the world when the explosion occurred, leaving her in tears, and blamed herself for injured fans, but she then immediately joined other performers in assisting partygoers.
In addition, Wang Liang-kai, who is suspected of using the chaos caused by the expolsion and its aftermath to steal from other people at the park, was arrested and questioned by police.
The incident occurred at about 8:30pm on Saturday, when dust-like colored powder apparently burst into flame near a stage.
Just under 500 people were injured, many suffering severe burns, with 202 listed as being in serious condition at press time last night.
Lu immediately kneeled down and apologized again after he was released from the prosecutors’ office.
“No one wanted this to happen. I have watched the news, and it hurts to see so many people being harmed,” he said. “I have also suffered from burns, and I know how much they hurt. I really do not know what I can do to make up for it.”
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The imports from Belize would replace those from Honduras, whose shrimp exports have dropped 67 percent since cutting ties in 2023 Maintaining ties with Taiwan has economic benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday, citing the approval of frozen whiteleg shrimp imports from Belize by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example. The FDA on Wednesday approved the tariff-free imports from Belize after the whiteleg shrimp passed the Systematic Inspection of Imported Food, which would continue to boost mutual trade, the ministry said. Taiwan’s annual consumption of whiteleg shrimps stands at 30,000 tonnes, far exceeding domestic production, the ministry said. Taiwan used to fill the gap by importing shrimps from Honduras, but purchases slumped after Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan
RSS