Several explosions shook underground gas leaks Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, sending cars and concrete into the air and causing at least 24 dead and 271 injured, authorities said Friday as initiated the search for causes.
"The interruption of electricity hampered firefighters searching for victims"
The series of explosions, between midnight Thursday and early Friday, hit a densely populated district in which several operating pipelines petrochemical plants along the drains.
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Some firefighters called to the neighborhood to investigate a gas leak were among the victims when the explosions erupted several hours later. At least five red fire trucks were overturned in the rubble.
Four firefighters were among 24 fatalities and 271 people were injured, said the national fire agency. The death toll could rise as many of those who suffered the most serious injuries were attended yet, officials said.
"Last night around midnight, the house began to shake and thought it was a huge earthquake, but when I opened the door I saw white smoke all over the place and I smelled gas," said Chen Qing-tao, 38, who lives at 10 buildings in place of the explosions.
It is believed that the fires were caused by a propane leak, a petrochemical material is not intended for public use, but the cause and source of the leak were not immediately clear, officials said. Getty Images
The force of the initial explosion toppled trees on the streets. The TVBS showed overturned cars and broken windows.
The prime minister of Taiwan, Jiang Yi-huah said that at least five explosions rocked the streets of the port city of Kaohsiung, 2.8 million people in the southwest of the island.
The force of the explosions knocked down trees and overturned cars
Taiwanese broadcast channel ETTV images that are several fires while smoke rises to heaven in the middle of a street in the city. A motorcycle and other debris were scattered in the middle of the street.
The interruption of electric power in the area hampered firefighters searching for victims who may be buried under the rubble.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said several petrochemical companies have products installed in parallel with the sewer district in-Chian Chen, where factories and apartment buildings.
"Our priority now is to save lives. Ask civilians to vacate their homes if they live near pipelines," said Chen at TVBS television. Getty Images
The prime minister of Taiwan, Jiang Yi-huah said that at least five explosions rocked the streets of the port city of Kaohsiung.
In pictures taken with mobile phones the sound of an explosion is seen as the flames reached at least nine meters (30 feet) high.
The force of the initial explosion toppled trees on the streets. The TVBS showed overturned cars and broken windows.
The fire department said residents warned about a gas leak around 8:46 pm and that the explosions began around midnight, according to the Central News Agency.
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