Gas appeared to be the cause of a blast at a Chiayi City temple that injured 28 people, the Chiayi Fire Bureau said yesterday, ruling out the possibility that explosives were involved.
At about 9:56pm on Saturday, an explosion went off in front of a stage set up at the intersection of Jinshan Road and Yongle Street for a festival honoring the Tiger God.
As of 9am yesterday, 28 people had been reported injured, four of whom had relatively serious injuries, the Chiayi City Government said.
Photo: Wang Shan-yan, Taipei Times
Seven were still in hospital receiving treatment for glass lacerations or burns, it added.
Initial investigations have ruled out explosives as the cause of the blast, which exhibited the characteristics of a gas explosion, bureau Director Su Yao-hsing (蘇耀星) said.
Further investigation is required to determine the exact cause, he added.
Forensic investigators found trash bags and gravel at the site of the explosion, Chiayi First Precinct deputy chief Yin Chia-hung (殷嘉宏) said, adding that a team has been set up to investigate the cause.
Eyewitnesses said the blast originated from a trash can, which did not have any firecrackers or other explosives inside, the event organizer said.
Representatives from the city yesterday morning visited the injured in hospital to provide assistance, Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) said, adding that the official cause of the incident would be announced once the investigation is finished.
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