An early morning collapse of an makeshift platform at a Buddhist temple in central Taiwan left more than 180 injured, according to rescue officials.
The accident occurred at around 5:40am yesterday morning at Nantou County's Lingyen Mountain Temple.
Of the injured, 18 were said to be in critical condition and were promptly sent to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
PHOTO: TUNG CHEN-KUO, TAIPEI TIMES
At least three people have been placed in intensive care at local hospitals.
Cause of the accident
While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, the Nantou County fire department said that it was likely the stand was unable to support the weight that had been placed on it.
The Central News Agency reported yesterday that roughly 400 people had been on the platform when the stand collapsed.
The platform was about 4m high.
Gathering
About 800 pilgrims from all over Taiwan and abroad had gathered at the temple for a week-long Buddhist ritual.
The platform had been set up for a group picture to commemorate the event.
Temple representatives yesterday said that the platform was supposed to have been able to support the weight of up to 1,000 people.
Temple representatives also said that the temple had set up a platform for similar purposes in the past with no problems.
Investigation
Nantou prosecutors have already begun an investigation into whether the mishap was the result of negligence.
People were being rescued from the rubble throughout the day yesterday.
Some reports in the media putting the tally of injured as high as 198 at around 5pm last night.
Vice Minister of the Interior Lin Join-sane (林中森) rushed to the site of the accident yesterday around noon and visited those who had been hospitalized.
The Ministry of Interior said that it would provide the three intensive care patients with compensation of up to NT$10,000 each.
Other injured parties who were hospitalized are expected to receive approximately NT$3,000 in compensation.
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