Kaohsiung, Taiwan Explosion, Fire: 5 Dead, 200+ People Taken to Hospital After Gas Blast (Photos, Video)

Kaohsiung, Taiwan Explosion, Fire: 5 Dead, 200+ People Taken to Hospital After Gas Blast (Photos, Video)
Jack Phillips
7/31/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

An underground gas explosion has left at least 200 people injured in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Thursday, according to preliminary reports.

The Associated Press reported that at least five people were killed and 228 were injured. Firefighters are among those killed in the incident.

Taiwanese PM Jiang Yi-Huah said there were at least five explosions.

Photos uploaded to Twitter showed roaring flames downtown.

The Focus Taiwan News Channel reported that “multiple gas explosions” rocked the streets. The gas leaks started at around 9 p.m local time.

“I saw fire spurting, ripping off some covers of ditches. It was terrifying,” a witness told the channel.

 


Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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