Organiser charged over Taiwan water park explosion

comments     dpa     Published     Updated

The organiser of a party at a Taiwan water park that resulted in the deaths of a dozen people and injuries to hundreds of others was charged today with professional negligence causing death and injury.

Coloured cornstarch powder pumped into the air at the dance party caught fire at the Formosa Water Park in New Taipei on June 27, causing severe and fatal burn injuries.

Event organiser Lu Chung-chi allegedly failed to inform staff members, water park managers, or partygoers of the danger the powder could pose, Shilin district prosecutors’ spokesperson Chen Hsi-Chu told a news conference.

“The negligence has caused serious injuries. We ask the judge to impose a stiff punishment,” Chen said in the conference broadcast online today.

Lu is the only person to be charged so far in the case.

The explosion happened when some of the flammable powder came into contact with a powerful light placed on the stage, Chen told dpa later.

Chen said the accident injured about 500 people, including 16 foreigners from Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, the United States, South Africa, Macau, Hong Kong and China.

As of Oct 15, 71 people were still in hospital. Among them, 21 remain under intensive care, including 10 in critical condition, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

- dpa



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