Number of Injured in Taiwan Water Park Blast Rises to 516
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The number of people injured in an explosion at a water park in Taiwan has more than doubled to more than 500, authorities said Sunday, after tracking down hundreds of victims who took themselves to hospital or were taken by others in the crowd.
At least 516 were injured and 194 severely after flammable power exploded at a recreational park in northern Taiwan, outside the Taiwanese capital on Saturday.
Footage on the Apple Daily newspaper website showed crowds dancing as music played and clouds of powder being sprayed out which suddenly turned into a ball of fire that swept through the spectators.
Terrified partygoers were then shown running for their lives, screaming, as they were overtaken by flames. As ambulance crews struggled to reach the site, victims were carried away on rubber rings and inflatable dinghies as friends desperately tried to get them out. Bystanders poured bottles of water on the scorched skin of the victims still at the scene.
According to eye witnesses, the flame erupted so quickly that many did not have time to run. Many in the crowd thought it was part of the special effect until the fire got out of control. They described the scene as inferno, as many were seen screaming in pain as they were overwhelmed by the fire. Many of the injured are students, whose parents had problems locating the whereabouts of their children.
Around 1,000 spectators had been at the Colour Play Asia event at the Formosa Fun Coast waterpark, just outside the capital Taipei, according to officials.
One male witness told local news channel CTI: "It started on the left side of the stage. At the beginning I thought it was part of the special effects of the party but then I realised there was something wrong and people started screaming and running."
"Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage," said a spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department.
A man responsible for the event had been detained by police for investigation, the spokesman said. Prosecutors were also looking into the incident, local media reported.
Television images showed the stage on fire and crowds running away, some of them only dressed in swimwear and covered in coloured powder. Trails of bloody footprints leading away from the stage remained in the aftermath of the inferno, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The fire was quickly extinguished, according to authorities.
Officials said that ambulances had found it difficult to get near to the site and had to send in emergency workers with stretchers.
"We feel sad and regretful about the accident," said New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu who was reported as saying it was the municipality's worst ever incident of mass injury. He said that extra doctors had been called in to help treat the victims.
"I've ordered the park to shut down immediately and be placed under a rigorous investigation," Chu added.