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Taiwan gas blasts in Kaohsiung kill at least 22 Taiwan gas blasts in Kaohsiung kill at least 24
(about 3 hours later)
A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 22 people and injured about 270, officials say. A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 24 people and injured about 270 others, officials say.
The blasts rocked the city's Cianjhen district, scattering cars and blowing deep trenches in roads.
The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines.The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines.
Images from the scene show major fires, cars overturned and significant damage to roads and buildings. Images of the scene showed major fires, upturned vehicles, bodies covered in debris and streets split in two.
Dozens of those injured by the blasts were taken to hospitals for treatment, Taiwan's fire agency said. The explosions happened late on Thursday night, with witnesses reporting huge fireballs soaring into the air. Taiwan's premier said there were at least five blasts.
"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. "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 said in a statement.
'A huge cave' "I saw lots of cars and motorcycles with engines all over on the road, and doctors checking if bodies were dead or alive," eyewitness Chen Guan-yuan, who was at the scene shortly after the blast, told the BBC.
"I saw lots of cars and motorcycles with engines all over on the road, and doctors checking if bodies were dead or alive, "eyewitness Chen Guan-yuan, who was at the scene shortly after the blast, told the BBC. "Because the explosion range is so far so it's really difficult to handle this situation immediately," Mr Chen said, adding that the blasts "caused a long-range hole, like a huge cave".
"Because the explosion range is so far so it's really difficult to handle this situation immediately," Mr Chen said, adding that the blasts "caused a long range hole, like a huge cave". Four firefighters who were investigating reports of a gas leak were said to be among the dead.
Four firefighters are said to be among the dead. People in the area were evacuated to schools as teams battled the blazes. By Friday morning most fires were reported to have been extinguished.
People in the nearby area have been evacuated to schools, local officials say. Firefighters were still trying to see if people were trapped under the rubble, the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei reported.
Despite firefighting efforts, fires were still out of control in two streets at 05:00 local time (21:00 GMT), five hours after the blasts, local media reported. The exact cause of the blasts had not yet been identified but several petrochemical companies had pipelines running along the sewage system in the district, our correspondent added.
Firefighters are still trying to see if people are trapped under the rubble of the explosion, the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei reports. "The cause of the gas leak is still not clear at this moment. We suspect the leaked gas could be propylene," said Economic Affairs Minister Chang Chia-chu.
The cause of the blast has not yet been identified but several petrochemical companies have pipelines running along the sewage system in the district, our correspondent adds. One witness told AFP news agency he saw "fire soaring up to possibly 20 storeys high after a blast".
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. Another told Taiwan's Central News Agency that the "explosions were like thunder and the road in front of my shop ripped open".
Hundreds of soldiers, and firefighters from neighbouring Tainan City and Pingtung County, had been deployed to assist rescue efforts, Mr Jiang added. "It felt like an earthquake," the witness said.
People have been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung's Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media reported. People had been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung's Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media reported.
Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu wrote on her Facebook page (in Chinese): "Rescue efforts are still underway."Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu wrote on her Facebook page (in Chinese): "Rescue efforts are still underway."
She urged everyone to "follow the instructions of rescue teams at the scene, and avoid standing around and watching".She urged everyone to "follow the instructions of rescue teams at the scene, and avoid standing around and watching".
"The local government has already requested [gas suppliers] CPC and Hsin Kao Gas cut off the gas supply," she added, urging residents to stay calm."The local government has already requested [gas suppliers] CPC and Hsin Kao Gas cut off the gas supply," she added, urging residents to stay calm.
The local government has set up an emergency response centre.The local government has set up an emergency response centre.
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".
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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