Nearly every home in Taiwan uses natural gas for cooking. A recent explosion in Hsinchu County is leaving many residents questioning the safety of their gas pipelines.
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Firefighters carry a baby out of a smoke-filled hallway; its parents close behind, covering their nose and mouth. It’s the aftermath of an explosion caused by a gas leak in Zhubei City in Hsinchu County. The culprit? A valve in the public gas line clogged up with dirt.
An official from the Hsinchu Gas Company says the line has received its biannual maintenance as scheduled, receiving its last checkup in May. But the explosion has many residents questioning the quality of the maintenance, or if it was really carried out. The general manager of Hshinchu Gas says the inspection documentation has been handed over to investigators.
Hsinchu Gas was the subject of an investigation by the Control Yuan in 2017, which found that the company had not inspected its valves in over five years. It also revealed that the amount of gas leaking from Hsinchu Gas’ lines each year surpasses NT$100 million.
The explosion has both residents and lawmakers questioning what the monthly maintenance fee they pay is being spent on, and whether they can feel safe in their own homes.