POWDER KEG:An expert on fire safety described the environment created by the organizers as meeting all the conditions necessary for an explosion of that type
Taipei Times
Date: Jun 30, 2015
By: Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA
As victims of an inferno caused by colored powder catching fire at the Color Play Asia
A police investigator yesterday inspects the site of Saturday’s Formosa Fun Coast water park fire in New Taipei City. Photo: CNA
party in a New Taipei City water park fought for their lives in hospitals yesterday, details of the accident emerged which commentators said indicated that the explosion was an accident waiting to happen.
The incident at Formosa Fun Coast (八仙海岸) water park in New Taipei City’s Bali District (八里), saw nearly 500 injured when corn starch ignited causing a series of fireballs, which engulfed young people dancing to techno music in a drained swimming pool at about 8:30pm on Saturday
As much as three tonnes of fine cornstarch had been prepared for use during the event, which was in its second year, New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said.
About 4,000 tickets were sold for the event. Each partygoer paid an entrance fee of NT$1,500 and was given three packets of colored powder, according to the Chinese-language Apple Daily. [FULL STORY]
