Hundreds of people are in hospital with burns following a blast at a water park in New Taipei City on Saturday night. Of the 516 people injured, 194 are listed in serious condition. Eight are listed as having life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred at about 8:30pm at the Formosa Fun Coast water park in New Taipei. A massive crowd of young people had gathered for an event called Color Play Asia, which bills itself as the largest color party in the region. The party offered music and sprayed the participants colored powder made from corn starch and coloring.
Witnesses say that the colored powder caught fire in mid-air, triggering a giant fireball which injured the crowds below.
Formosa Fun Coast has apologized for the incident. The park has said, though, that it had leased the venue to an independent organizer for the event, and that the organizer was contractually responsible for safety.
Prosecutors have questioned the organizer and other workers at the event, following the incident.