A group of plastic and reconstructive surgeons and therapists from Johns Hopkins Medicine will arrive in Taipei this weekend to help treat patients who suffered severe burns last month in a water park disaster.
Some 500 people were injured during a party at the Formsosa Fun Coast water park in late June when colored powder that was sprayed on partygoers exploded and burst into flames. The powder was made of cornstarch, which is flammable. As of Saturday, seven people have died from their injuries, 370 are still being treated in hospitals, and 174 are in critical condition.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Friday, most of the six members of the Johns Hopkins team will travel to Taipei on the presidential plane with President Ma Ying-jeou, who is coming home from a state visit to Central America and the Caribbean.
The American medical experts will visit hospitals in central and southern Taiwan to mainly offer advice on treating burn patients.