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Kaohsiung: 'Gas' explosions shake Taiwan city Kaohsiung: Gas explosions shake Taiwan city
(35 minutes later)
A series of explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 15 people and injured more than 200, officials say. A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 15 people and injured more than 200, officials say.
Reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured gas pipelines. 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.
"At least 212 people who were injured have been rushed to hospitals for treatment," the National Fire Agency said. 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 fire agency added in a statement. "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.
People have been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung's Lingya district, Taiwanese news agency CNA reported. 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.
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