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| Taiwan gas blasts in Kaohsiung kill at least 25 | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has killed 25 people and injured 267 others, officials say. | |
| The blasts rocked the city's Cianjhen district, scattering cars and blowing deep trenches in roads. | 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 of the scene showed major fires, upturned vehicles, bodies covered in debris and streets split in two. | Images of the scene showed major fires, upturned vehicles, bodies covered in debris and streets split in two. |
| 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 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 said 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. |
| "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 who were investigating reports of a gas leak were 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 area were evacuated to schools as teams battled the blazes. By Friday morning most fires were reported to have been extinguished. |
| Firefighters were still trying to see if people were trapped under the rubble, the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei reported. | Firefighters were still trying to see if people were trapped under the rubble, the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei 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. | 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. |
| "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 gas leak is still not clear at this moment. We suspect the leaked gas could be propylene," said Economic Affairs Minister Chang Chia-chu. |
| Cindy Sui, BBC News, Kaohsiung | |
| The area where the explosions happened is just a short distance from the Kaohsiung City Hall, the popular Guanghua Night Market, the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and at least one major hotel. | |
| Eyewitnesses and local residents reported smelling a strong gas odour about three hours before the explosions occurred. Many of them were worried and went outside. | |
| One person wrote online that he called Kaohsiung City's hotline for residents but was told that firefighters had arrived on the scene and to go back home. | |
| As he expressed anger to the hotline operator, he saw a large explosion. Manhole covers were blown three stories high. Many people lay injured on the street. | |
| Another resident who lived nearby said that he thought it was an earthquake at first and then he heard something like a bomb. The electricity was cut off. He immediately woke up his wife and children and they quickly left their home. | |
| One witness told AFP news agency he saw "fire soaring up to possibly 20 storeys high after a blast". | One witness told AFP news agency he saw "fire soaring up to possibly 20 storeys high after a blast". |
| Another told Taiwan's Central News Agency that the "explosions were like thunder and the road in front of my shop ripped open". | Another told Taiwan's Central News Agency that the "explosions were like thunder and the road in front of my shop ripped open". |
| "It felt like an earthquake," the witness said. | "It felt like an earthquake," the witness said. |
| People had 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. |
| 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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