A woman has died in the first fatality from the nearly 500 casualties from a weekend blaze at a Taiwan water park, as investigators examined the coloured powder that rained fire as it was sprayed over revellers from a stage.
Officials said more than 200 of those being treated after Saturday’s fire at the Formosa Fun Coast water park in New Taipei City remained in a serious condition.
The 20-year-old woman died after suffering second degree burns on more than 90 per cent of her body, health authorities said.
Investigators are seeking a reason why the corn flour mix of coloured powder combusted after being sprayed over the partygoers from a machine mounted on a stage.
“The source of the heat is still under investigation,” said Kevin Lo, an official with the city fire department. “The powder itself is not considered a dangerous good.”
Investigators are looking at three main possibilities: cigarette embers, a lighter flame, or electrical sparks, Mr Lo told reporters.
Chou Hui-fang, an official with Taiwan Foods, the powder manufacturer which supplied the powder for Saturday's event, said that the powder is edible, but it is made of carbohydrates, so it should not be put near any heat source.
Colour powder
The use of colour powder has gained popularity in Taiwan in recent years to lend more festivity to public events.
The municipal government for New Taipei City, which surrounds the capital Taipei, said that the water park had violated regulations by not applying for the required permission to host the party.
The event organiser Lu Chung-chi was detained by police, questioned and released on bail.
The local prosecutor’s office was unavailable to comment on the case.
On live television on Sunday, Mr Lu apologised on his knees to the public for the incident.
The president of the water park also apologised on Monday.
“We rented it out like you rent a house. You don’t expect something like this to happen,” water park president Chen Hui-ying said.
Reuters