Dozens dead as Taiwan gas explosions tear up streets
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Powerful blasts rip through southern Taiwanese city's streets
Gas leaks are suspected as the cause of the explosions
At least 26 people have died, with hundreds more injured
(CNN) -- A downtown district of the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung was ripped apart just before midnight Thursday by a series of explosions that killed at least 26 people and injured hundreds more, state news agency CNA reported.
The blasts, which were triggered by underground gas leaks, tore trenches through main roads, overturned cars and trucks, and sent flames leaping into the air in the city's Cianjhen district.
Witnesses said they saw vehicles flung into the air by the force of the explosions; one car was found on the roof of a three-story building.
Zong Han-Li was driving when the explosion happened directly in front of him, and his dashboard camera caught the moment the gas ignited.
A downtown district of the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung was ripped apart by gas explosions just before midnight on Thursday, July 31.
The blasts killed dozens and injured hundreds, according to initial reports.
Witnesses said they saw vehicles flung into the air by the force of the explosions.
The blast sent flames leaping into the air in the city's Cianjhen district.
Fires blazed through the night, but had mostly been contained by Friday morning.
Authorities suspect ethylene, propane or butane in the explosions. There are several petrochemical factories in the region.
"It was very loud when the explosion happened, (and) debris was blasted into the sky. Motorcycles were tossed as high as three stories," a witness told CNN.
"The video went black after a rock struck the dash cam and dislocated it," he told CNN. "I was scared that more rocks will follow, so I opened the door and looked around for help. I was very fortunate the driver's door was not stuck.
"The explosion left a trench 2 meters deep. Some vehicles were blasted into the air, and some people fell into the trench. It was a devastating scene.
"It was very loud when the explosion happened, (and) debris was blasted into the sky. Motorcycles were tossed as high as three stories. Everyone came out to help because there were already injuries."
Two people were blown to the roof of a four-story building, where emergency workers found them and took them to the hospital, CNA reported.
Some vehicles were blasted into the air, and some people fell into the trench. It was a devastating scene.
Zong Han-Li, witness
Firefighters from neighboring cities rushed to Kaohsiung to help battle several fires, which had been mostly contained by Friday morning.
At least 26 people were killed, including four firefighters. Twenty-two emergency workers were among 267 people injured, officials said. A number of people were still missing, including a senior fire official who went to investigate reports of a gas leak.
As daylight broke, the extent of the damage became clear, with wrecked cars and motorcycles strewn across the cratered streets.
Dave Flynn, an English expatriate who has lived in the city for several years, visited the site of the explosions Friday morning. He said a huge trench had been gouged along the length of a main thoroughfare for several kilometers, and the pavement had been thrown to the side of the road, damaging vehicles.
"There were police cordons on the major intersections, but they were just stopping vehicles," he said. "Most of the side streets, you could just walk into the area, and it was full of pedestrians checking out what had happened. I saw people fixing their own houses, and I saw the army arrive, some trucks to clean up some of the (wrecked) cars."
Schools and offices in the Cianjhen district, as well as in the neighboring Lingya district, were closed Friday to facilitate rescue efforts, Mayor Chen Chu said. Several schools and a cultural center are being used as emergency shelters.
Authorities suspect ethylene, propane or butane in the explosions. There are several petrochemical factories in the region.
The government called up hundreds of soldiers to assist in search and rescue efforts.
By Euan McKirdy and Shelby Lin Erdman, CNN
August 1, 2014 -- Updated 1522 GMT (2322 HKT)
来週の焦点 トヨタ四半期決算8月2日 0時39分 ５日、トヨタ自動車がことし４月から６月まで３か月間の決算を発表します。ことし上半期の世界での販売台数が過去最高の５０９万台余りとなり、３年連続で世界トップとなりました。一方、国内の新車販売は、消費増税の影響で、７月まで４か月連続で減少が続いています。今後の業績見通しが注目されます。
米失業率悪化 就業者数は増加8月1日 22時06分 アメリカの７月の雇用統計が発表され、失業率は６．２％で前の月より０．１ポイント悪化しましたが、景気の現状を示す農業分野以外の就業者数は、前の月より２０万９０００人増えて、６か月連続で堅調な水準とされる２０万人を超える伸びとなりました。
アメリカ労働省が１日発表した７月の雇用統計によりますと、失業率は６．２％で前の月より０．１ポイント悪化しました。
また、景気の現状を反映する指標として特に注目される農業分野以外の就業者数は、前の月に比べて２０万９０００人増えました。
２２万人程度の増加を見込んでいた市場の予想は下回りましたが、ことし２月から６か月連続で、堅調な水準とされる２０万人を上回って増加し、雇用が持続的に拡大していることを示しています。
分野別に見ますと、「医療・福祉」や「飲食店」の増加が続いたほか、自動車などの「製造業」も増加し、幅広い業種で雇用が増えました。
一方、中央銀行に当たるＦＲＢ＝連邦準備制度理事会が雇用情勢の中でも改善が不十分だとして動向を注視している、正社員の仕事が見つからずやむをえずパートで働く人の数はいくぶん減りました。
その一方で、半年以上にわたって失業している人の数は増えたほか、賃金の上昇も僅かにとどまり、なお課題も残っています。
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