TAIPEI // A young woman died on Monday, the first fatality among nearly 500 casualties from a weekend blaze at a Taiwan water park, as investigators focused on the possibility that a cigarette butt or spark may have caused the fire.
More than 400 people remained hospitalised, 200 in serious condition, after crowds of young revellers at a “colour party” were engulfed in flames on Saturday after being sprayed with clouds of multicoloured corn starch.
Eight suffered life-threatening injuries from the incident at the Formosa Fun Coast recreational park, local media said.
A 20-year-old woman succumbed on Monday afternoon after suffering second degree burns on over 90 per cent of her body, health authorities said. She was taken off life support with her family’s consent, Taiwan’s Central News Agency said.
Investigators were seeking a reason why the corn flour mix of coloured powder combusted after being sprayed over the partygoers from a machine mounted on a stage.
“The source of the heat is still under investigation,” said Kevin Lo, an official with the city fire department. “The powder itself is not considered a dangerous good.”
Investigators are looking at three main possibilities: cigarette embers, a lighter, or electrical sparks, Mr Lo said.
Chou Hui-fang, an official with Taiwon Foods — the central Taiwan-based powder manufacturer which supplied the powder for Saturday’s event — said that the powder is edible. However, it is made of carbohydrates, so it should not be put near any heat source.
“Whether it’s corn starch or flour starch, this kind of stuff, no matter how long it’s been around, if it’s in dense quantities and if it’s hot, it can catch fire,” Ms Chou said.
She said the buyer was informed about the risk of fire, and that her company has been questioned by police and health officials but was not considered at fault.
The use of colour powder has gained popularity in Taiwan in recent years to lend more festivity to public events. It has been widely used in marathons.
Taiwan premier Mao Chi-kuo on Sunday banned use of the powder at future private events.
The event organiser Lu Chung-chi was detained by police, questioned and released on bail. The local prosecutor’s office was unavailable to comment on the case.
On live television on Sunday, Mr Lu went on his knees and apologised to the public for the incident. The president of the water park also apologised on Monday.
“We rented it out like you rent a house. You don’t expect something like this to happen,” water park president Chen Hui-ying said in tears on live television.
* Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
