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02 Mar 2017
Taiwan waterpark gets green light to reopen following fatal party accident
By Alice Davis
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Police investigators inspect the stage area after an accidental explosion during a music concert at the Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan on June 28, 2015
Photo: AP Photo
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Formosa Fun Coast, the Taiwan waterpark where 15 revellers were killed and hundreds injured in 2015, has been given permission to reopen to the public.
The accident happened when a coloured powder that was being used as decorative party prop caught light. The powder, which had been sprayed on the partygoers, quickly went up in flames, causing fireballs and explosions where people were gathered in front of the stage.
The attraction, which is located in the Bali district of Taipei County in northern Taiwan, was closed immediately following the tragedy and its license to operate was withdrawn. Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau said the operator illegally rented out the property to the party organiser, without having the right permits.
The Taipei Administrative High Court overturned the suspension on 1 March, finding insufficient evidence to show the operator knowingly put the public in danger, but upheld a NT50,000 fine.
It’s not clear when Formosa Fun Coast will re-open. The Tourism Bureau may decide to appeal against the court’s decision.
Lu Chung-chi – the man responsible for organising the waterpark party – was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison. Charges against waterpark operators were dropped.
Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the explosion, which is suspected to have been caused by a mixture of air and concentrated combustible particles. |
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