The last patient injured in a deadly dust explosion at the Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) water park in New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里) on June 27 last year was discharged from hospital earlier this month, while recovery for the hundreds of people injured in the incident continues, health authorities said yesterday, six days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the disaster.
The patient, a 21-year-old man with burns covering 90 percent of his body, was discharged on June 3 after receiving treatment at two hospitals in Taipei for a total of 341 days, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) said.
NHIA official Chang Wen-wen (張溫溫) said the man underwent several skin grafts and physical therapy on his joints.
The blast at the water park occurred when colored cornstarch powder, used for party effects, exploded and burst into flames, engulfing partygoers.
A total of 508 people were injured and 15 died from their injuries.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 281 of the victims sustained burns that covered more than 40 percent of their bodies, including 41 people with burns to more than 80 percent of their bodies.
The National Health Insurance program has paid more than NT$765 million (US$23.73 million) to cover the victims’ medical costs, Chang said.
Meanwhile, the NHIA has filed a lawsuit against the party’s organizers and other related parties with the Shilin District Court as it seeks NT$436 million in compensation to cover the costs incurred in the first month after the accident, Chang said.
The case has yet to come before the court, she added.
In April, Lu Chung-chi (呂忠吉), the head of the local firm that organized the Color Play Asia party at the water park, was found guilty of negligence causing death and injury and was sentenced by the Shilin court to four years and 10 months in prison.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary