Explosions at Taiwan waste site injure 15, damage dozens of homes
A fire followed by powerful explosions tore through a waste storage site in Tainan, southern Taiwan, on Saturday, injuring 15 people and damaging dozens of homes and vehicles.
Footage from Viory showed soot-blackened buildings, shattered windows and damaged vehicles near the site, including an ambulance, as residents clear debris and carry out repairs.
"At around 1:00 or so, there were one or two slight, minor explosions, and it wasn't until around 2:40 or so that a second major blast occurred," one resident said.
The fire reportedly broke out shortly after 01:00 in Annan District, with a major explosion occurring around 02:45 as firefighters battled the blaze.
Authorities said the site contained industrial waste, including discarded oil barrels and materials containing aluminium and magnesium. The cause remains under investigation.
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"The preliminary findings... confirmed that there were discarded oil barrels inside, as well as scrap aluminium and magnesium," Tainan Fire Department director Yang Zonglin said. Fifteen people were injured, including three firefighters, although none sustained life-threatening injuries.
At least 68 homes were affected, including 11 directly damaged by fire, while more than 20 civilian and emergency vehicles were also damaged. Authorities deployed 144 firefighters and 53 vehicles to the scene.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
