Story highlights
- Water park: A separate marketing firm put on the "Color Play Asia" party
- Video shows a fireball erupting, followed by people running through flames
- Firefighters believe a flammable powder exploded in midair, according to state news
(CNN)At
least 472 people were injured -- about 100 of them seriously -- after
flammable powder apparently exploded in midair at a recreational water
park in Taiwan, the East Asian nation's official Central News Agency
reported.
The flames erupted
when the unknown substance blew up over a stage around 8:30 p.m.
Saturday (8:30 a.m. ET) at Formosa Fun Coast, firefighters said,
according to the CNA report.
CNA reported that "the fire was quickly brought under control," but not before hundreds suffered injuries.
Video
showed a massive fireball suddenly engulfing the stage, followed by
screaming people running for their lives through flames.
Some people used large, inflated inner tubes as stretchers to carry out the injured, CNA reported.
Hundreds injured in Taiwan water park blast 00:43
Calling
it the "worst incident of mass injury (ever) in New Taipei," Taiwan's
most populous city, Mayor Eric Chu called for ambulance support from
neighboring Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung. In addition, Taiwanese defense
ministry spokesman Luo Shao-he said all military hospitals in northern
Taiwan were prepared to take patients.
Formosa
Fun Coast indicated the fiery explosion occurred during a "Color Play
Asia" party put on by a separate marking company that leased out space
at the park.
"We are very regretful
(for) this accident that caused injuries to many victims," Formosa Fun
Coast said in a statement. "The most urgent matter currently for us is
to handle and assist with ... victims on the scene and work
comprehensively with the New Taipei Fire Department."