Organiser charged over waterpark firestorm that killed 12
by Tom Anstey | 19 Oct 2015
12 people died as a result of the accident, with more than 500 badly burned
The organiser responsible for the event at a waterpark in Taiwan in which 12 people were killed and hundreds were injured has been indicted on multiple charges including negligent homicide.
The accident, which engulfed a crowd of party-goers in a massive firestorm, happened at the Formosa water park in New Taipei City on 28 June.
Organiser Lu Chung-chi was arrested soon after the incident at the event hosted by Colour Play Asia. The indictment recommends a heavy sentence for Lu if convicted. 516 people were injured, 200 seriously, after the starch-based powder ignited on-stage and sprayed onto the crowd of around 1,000, engulfing a large portion of the dance area in flames almost instantaneously.
The Taiwanese manufacturer of the powder has since said it did not know of its intended purpose and that the substance posed risk of ignition if it was densely applied at a high temperature. Investigators believe the explosion was caused by a small electrical spark or cigarette.
In the wake of the accident, the park was closed and the government implemented a ban on use of such powder at future events.
The organiser responsible for the event at a waterpark in Taiwan in which 12 people were killed and hundreds were injured has been indicted on multiple charges including negligent homicide. The accident, which engulfed a crowd of party-goers in a massive firestorm, happened at the Formosa water park in New Taipei City on 28 June. Organiser Lu Chung-chi was arrested soon after the incident at the event hosted by Colour
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