2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions
Aftermath of the explosion at a road in Kaohsiung
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|
| Time |
Initial reported gas leak: 8:46 p.m. (UTC+8) First explosion: 11:57 p.m. (UTC+8) |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 July 2014 |
| Location | Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
| Coordinates | 22°36′39″N 120°19′8″E / 22.61083°N 120.31889°ECoordinates: 22°36′39″N 120°19′8″E / 22.61083°N 120.31889°E |
| Cause | Gas leak |
| Participants |
|
| Deaths | 32 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 321 |
On 31 July 2014, a series of gas explosions occurred in the Cianjhen and Lingya districts of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, following reports of gas leaks earlier that night. Thirty-two people were killed and 321 others were injured.
Eyewitnesses reported a smell of gas and white smoke coming out of manholes near Kaisyuan 3rd Road and Ersheng 1st Road in Cianjhen District on 31 July 2014 at 8:46 p.m., over three hours prior to the incident. The explosions occurred later at 11:57 p.m. on Yisin Road, Ersheng Road, Sanduo Road and Guanghua Road.
Witnesses reported seeing fireballs soaring into the sky and flames reaching 15 stories high. The blasts ripped up roads, trapped and overturned cars and firetrucks, and caused a blackout to the electrical grid. About 6 km of road length were damaged. The explosions reportedly blew cars and motorcycles high up in the air; some vehicles and victims were found at the rooftops of buildings three or four stories high. One street had been split along its length, swallowing fire trucks and other vehicles.
Premier Jiang Yi-huah stated that there had been at least five blasts around the city. The blasts cut gas supplies to 23,600 households, electricity to 12,000 households, and water to 8,000 households.
Firefighters from Kaohsiung City, Chiayi City, Pingtung County, Tainan City and Taitung County rushed to the scene to extinguish the fires and help the rescue efforts. Some of the firefighters also sprayed water on the roads in the hope to reduce the ground temperature. During the incident, four firefighters lost their lives, with two of them going missing; the explosions also injured 22 other emergency workers.The army was also dispatched and arrived at the site within two hours after the initial explosion.
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Wikipedia