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Kaohsiung: Gas explosions shake Taiwan city | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 15 people and injured more than 200, officials say. | |
The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines. | |
Images and footage from the scene show major fires and significant damage to roads and buildings. | Images and footage from the scene show major fires and significant damage to roads and buildings. |
Dozens of those injured by the blasts had been rushed to hospitals for treatment, Taiwan's fire agency said. | |
"The local fire department received calls of gas leaks late Thursday and then there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting an area of two to three sq km [one sq mile]," the National Fire Agency added in a statement. | |
Five firefighters are said to be among the dead. | |
The multiple explosions were sparked by gas leaks in the sewage system of Kaohsiung's Cianjhen District, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said, according to Taiwanese news agency CNA. | |
Hundreds of soldiers, and firefighters from neighbouring Tainan City and Pingtung County, had been deployed to assist rescue efforts, Mr Jiang added. | |
People have been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung's Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media reported. | |
Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that before the explosion, smoke with a "gas-like smell" came out of drains. | Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that before the explosion, smoke with a "gas-like smell" came out of drains. |
Are you in Kaohsiung? You can send us your experiences by emailing Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Kaohsiung". | |
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