Taiwan Gas Explosions

Several blasts have ripped through Kaohsiung, a city in south-western Taiwan, killing at least 25, injuring over 270 and overturning the cars in the street, the Fire Agency said. The cause is thought to be gas leaks in the sewage system.

25 dead, over 270 injured as multiple gas explosions hit Taiwan city

Taiwan's Prime Minister Jiang Yi-huah said at least five blasts shook the streets of Kaohsiung, a port city of 2.8 million.

Chang Jia-juch, the director of the Central Disaster Emergency Operation Centre, said the leaking gas had been identified as propene, meaning that the resulting fires could not be extinguished by water. The source of the leak was unknown.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said several petrochemical companies have pipelines built along the sewage system in Cianjhen, which has both factories and residential buildings.

Taiwan city rocked by deadly gas explosions

The cause of the explosion and the owner of the leaky pipeline are still unknown. Government-owned refiner CPC Corp. said it doesn't own the pipeline. LCY Chemical Corp., a petrochemical maker, which local media reported as the owner of the pipeline, issued a statement that said its pipeline was more than 10 meters from the site of the blast and carried propene, which may not have the smell the residents reported.

Deadly Gas-Pipeline Explosions Rock Taiwan

Four firefighters were among the victims and two were missing, while at least six fire trucks were flung into the rubble.

Mystery Gas Blasts Tear Up Streets In Taiwan