Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-14
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Kaohsiung has turned down the staging of fireworks on the Double Ten National Day following last June’s deadly color dust blast at a water park, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said Friday.

Earlier this week, the explosion at the Formosa Fun Coast amusement park in New Taipei City, which injured about 500 people, recorded its 11th fatal victim.

National Day celebrations on October 10 are usually marked by colorful fireworks, an official banquet and parades. This year, the southern port city of Kaohsiung was scheduled to host the extravaganza.

However, Wang, who chairs the organizing committee, said the city’s government had safety concerns and suggested not to hold the fireworks part of the event. Wang said he agreed, even though it would be the first time in history that fireworks would be absent from Double Ten day. It would have been the first time in 15 years that Kaohsiung would play host to the event.

The final decision would be made at a meeting of the organizing committee scheduled for September 10, Wang told reporters at the Legislative Yuan Friday.    [FULL  STORY]