Only one out of 45 bars, nightclubs and KTVs in a series of unannounced safety inspections in the five special municipalities met regulations, Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) said yesterday, calling the results “unbelievable.”
The ministry launched the inspections after reports said a nightclub that went up in flames in Greater Taichung on Sunday did not meet a number of safety requirements despite “passing” 21 safety inspections in recent years. Nine people died in the blaze and 12 were injured, prompting a -number of cities nationwide to take a second look at safety measures at various establishments. The Taichung City Government has come under heavy criticism and questions have been raised as to whether some city officials may have been negligent.
“Only one of the 45 [bars and KTVs] inspected last [Thursday] night passed all building, fire and other safety inspections. That’s incredible,” the minister said in a statement yesterday. “This shows that inspectors did not perform their jobs properly.”
Photo: CNA
“We certainly have to be more determined [in implementing safety checks] and make improvements right away to guarantee people’s safety and property,” Jiang said.
The unannounced, coordinated safety inspections were held in the five special municipalities of Taipei, New Taipei City (新北市), Greater Taichung, Greater Tainan and Greater Kaohsiung, targeting bars, nightclubs and KTVs in residential areas.
Initially, a total of 56 establishments were targeted for inspection, but 11 were not operating at the time of the inspections, so only 45 inspections could be carried out, the statement said.
As many as 40 establishments failed the inspections because they were officially registered as “category G” establishments — restaurants or other food and beverage establishments with floor space of less than 300m2 — but were actually bars, KTVs and nightclubs.
All the establishments that failed the inspection were ordered to make improvements within a certain period of time. Those that fail to comply and fail safety inspections a second time will be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000, the statement said.
“Business owners should make the lives and safety of their customers the priority, and should refrain from sneaking through legal loopholes to cut costs,” Jiang said. “We will continue to make such unannounced safety inspections in future.”
In related news, Jiang told the legislature that the ministry would soon come up with a set of regulations to issue fireproof certificates for certified fireproofing products as well as fire-prevention certificates for public places that meet all fire safety regulations.
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