TAIPEI – Taiwan on Sunday (June 26) marked the first anniversary of an explosion which killed 15 and injured hundreds, including a Singaporean, at a water park as victims and their relatives demanded justice for those responsible.
Just one organiser of the party at the park which ended in disaster has been sentenced so far.
Nineteen-year-old Singaporean Megan Loy was one of those injured in the fire. She suffered serious burns to around 80 per cent of her body, and is still recovering from her injuries.
See also: Singapore teen on the mend after nine skin grafts
Hundreds of survivors and relatives gathered for a memorial concert in Taipei to remember the dead and express their gratitude to medical, social and charity workers. Singaporean singer JJ Lin was among those who performed.
AFP, Reuters, Instagram
Almost 500 were injured in the blast at Formosa Fun Coast outside Taipei, when clouds of multi-coloured corn starch sprayed on revellers at a “colour party” ignited due to heat from stage lights.
The park had rented out its premises to an events company for the party.
Horrific video footage showed partygoers – mostly aged between 18 and 25 – screaming as they tried to escape the raging flames.
Prosecutors last year indicted only the party organiser Lu Chung-chi, who was among nine people – including the chairman and president of the park – being probed in the case.
Outraged victims and their families appealed for a new investigation, which was formally opened last month.
In April, Lu was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison for negligence leading to death, as the court cited the “excruciating pain” of the bereaved.
But victims said the sentence was too light and the park’s executives should also be held accountable.
“It is unacceptable that 15 people were killed but only the party organiser got a four-plus-year jail term. That’s not justice. We bought tickets from the water park and it should be held responsible,” said 26-year-old accountant Huang Ching-chun, who has been on sick leave from her job since the accident.
More than 200 of the partygoers were seriously injured, some with more than 90 percent burns – leading to amputations in some cases. Although all have now been released from hospital, many are still enduring painful rehabilitation or surgery.
Chen Wei-han, a 25-year-old former swim coach, said she just wants to “return to my normal life and be able to look after myself” after she was hospitalised for seven months with burns to nearly 70 percent of her face and body.
“The water park and New Taipei City government were both responsible for this huge public safety disaster. The victims and their families deserve justice,” Chen’s father added.
See also:
Bravery, loss and hope: Life after the Taiwan water park tragedy
