The Guardian
Date: 27 June 2015
More than 200 people were injured, more than 80 of them seriously, in an explosion at a
Injured attendees wait to be transferred to hospital. Photograph: EPA
water park outside Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, on Saturday, after coloured powder being sprayed on to a crowd ignited, officials said.
Footage on the Apple Daily newspaper website showed crowds dancing as music played. Clouds of powder suddenly turned into a ball of fire sweeping through the spectators.
“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.
The municipality’s deputy mayor said 221 people were hospitalised, with fire officials earlier saying 81 were seriously injured. Local media reported that 97 people were seriously hurt. [FULL STORY]