Gas Explosion at Residence in Gaocui Road, Hsinchu City Kills 2; Fire Bureau Suspects Gas Pipe Damage

(Central News Agency, reporter Lu Gangjun, Hsinchu City, 10th) A gas explosion occurred at a residence on Gaocui Road in Hsinchu City yesterday, resulting in 2 deaths. The Hsinchu City Fire Bureau stated today that a preliminary investigation suggests a damaged or broken gas pipe caused a leak, which then encountered an electrical spark, triggering the explosion. The bureau will inspect bento shops, snack bars, and other establishments within its jurisdiction to promote the installation of gas leak shut-off devices and other equipment.

Hsinchu City Fire Bureau Chief Li Shih-kung told the media in a joint interview today that the bento shop where the suspected gas explosion occurred was operating normally on the 8th. When it closed for the day at 8 p.m., employees did not notice any signs of a gas leak. However, a violent explosion occurred in the early hours of the 9th.

Li said that after a thorough on-site investigation, fire investigators cleared out 4 gas cylinders used by the bento shop: three 20kg cylinders and one 16kg cylinder. They found that the hoses on one 20kg cylinder and the 16kg cylinder were clearly broken. Furthermore, the broken end of the hose on the 16kg cylinder showed signs of melting. The hoses on the other two 20kg cylinders were still tightly connected to the metal pipes.

Based on the evidence at the scene, Li pointed out that it is suspected that the hose on the 16kg cylinder was damaged or broken for an unknown reason, causing gas to leak from the connected 20kg and 16kg cylinders late at night. The accumulated high concentration of gas then encountered an electrical spark at the scene, triggering a violent explosion.

Li stated that the owner of the bento shop provided photos of the initial gas cylinder installation, showing the cylinders connected to an automatic gas changeover valve, a flow meter, and other equipment. However, after comparing the photos with the scene, fire investigators have not yet found the "automatic gas leak alarm" that the owner claimed to have installed. This matter will be subject to further investigation and clarification of responsibility.

To prevent similar incidents from happening again, Li said that starting next week, within 3 months, the bureau will conduct a comprehensive inspection of all locations using liquefied petroleum gas within its jurisdiction, including bento shops, eateries, and general snack bars. For locations using less than 80kg of LPG in a connected setup, the bureau will guide business owners to install additional safety facilities such as gas leak shut-off devices, leak detection devices, anti-tip fixing equipment, and fire extinguishers, to comprehensively enhance public safety in commercial premises. (Editor: Chen Qingfang) 1150610