Over 500 Injured in Taiwan Water Park Explosion
KABUL: (Middle East Press) More than 500 people have been injured at a recreational water park near the Taiwanese capital Taipei after a ball of fire ripped through a crowd leaving 200 in a critical condition.
The incident took place when flames erupted after the unknown substance blew up over a stage about 8:30 pm local time on Saturday evening at Formosa Fun Coast, firefighters at the scene said, according to the country’s official Central News Agency (CNA).
The number of those injured in the blast, which came as colored powder being sprayed on the partygoers ignited late Saturday, more than doubled as authorities began to track down victims who had taken themselves to hospital or been ferried there by others.
Footage on the Apple Daily newspaper website showed crowds dancing as music played and clouds of powder being sprayed out which suddenly turned into an inferno that tore through the spectators.
Terrified partygoers were shown running for their lives, screaming, as they were overtaken by flames. Some were dressed only in swimwear and covered in the colored powder.
Meanwhile, the country’s defense ministry spokesman, Luo Shao-he, announced that all military hospitals in northern Taiwan were ready to treat the injured.
