Although the blaze released chemicals into the air, the fire at a fertilizer plant in Taichung on Sunday did not cause any significant damage to the quality of the air or water in nearby areas, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.
The fire injured at least 16 people and caused a great amount of financial losses. Although the fire was extinguished, it spontaneously re-ignited yesterday morning, before being put out again.
The EPA's air quality report yesterday suggested that levels of chemicals in the air remained normal, and public anxiety over the fire would eventually subside. The monitoring data collected yesterday morning showed that levels of methanol, ammonia, and ethylene that were released into the air are all at "acceptable levels."
In addition, EPA officials said that the accidental release of toxic chemicals would not lead to the formation of acid rain. EPA chief Chang Kuo-lung (
Yesterday, two filtering systems in nearby rivers were established. Seven trucks collected sludge from the rivers and sent them to sewage plants for treatment. EPA officials said that the yellow color in the rivers is normal because decomposition of nitrate released from the factory had been processed in water.
The pH level of river water also remained at "acceptable levels," the EPA said. Since the river water is not source for drinking water, the public should remain calm, officials added. However, agricultural agencies in charge of irrigation management will be closely monitoring the river in the near future.
Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
"Results from the monitoring of the the environmental impact in the next three days will be immediately available to the public," Hu said.
People who suffer from respiratory illnesses may experience further breathing problems as a result of the air pollution, official said.
On Sunday, fire fighters and reporters close to the scene experienced respiratory problems as a result of the blaze.
Hu noted that there are 25 other chemical factories in the industrial complex where the fire broke out, and the government inspect these facilities to prevent further fires.
The city government also reviewed its capability to deal with chemical leaks and planned to purchase more specially equipped trucks which are designed to handle chemical spills.
The EPA also yesterday held a disaster-prevention drill at the Taichung Science Park to deal with accidents involving toxic chemical spills. More than 200 rescue workers from 25 units, the police, the army and hospitals participated in a drill in the event of a major chemical spill in the future.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have
RSS