Nangang LaLaport Vieshow Cinema Fined NT$170,000 for Smoke Incident; Special Inspection Planned

(CNA, Taipei, May 19, by reporter Liu Kuan-bang) A Vieshow Cinema in Taipei's Nangang LaLaport recently filled with thick smoke, leading to a NT$50,000 fine from the Taipei City Fire Department, which found the public address system had been turned off. The Construction Management Office also fined the operator NT$120,000 for a malfunctioning automatic fire shutter. The Fire Department stated that to continue strengthening public safety, it will conduct a cross-departmental public and fire safety inspection of the LaLaport mall this week with the Construction Management Office to ensure consumer safety. On the afternoon of the 17th, Taipei City police and fire departments received a report of thick smoke at the Vieshow Cinema on the 5th floor of Nangang LaLaport on Jingmao 2nd Road. Firefighters arrived to find no fire, suspecting a short circuit in a popcorn machine was the cause. They assisted in cooling the machine, resolving the situation. The Taipei City Fire Department responded in writing today that after the incident, its personnel inspected the site and confirmed the broadcast equipment was turned off, imposing a fine of up to NT$50,000 on LaLaport in accordance with the law. Regarding the malfunctioning automatic fire shutter at the LaLaport mall, the Taipei City Construction Management Office has fined the operator NT$120,000 for violating the Building Act and demanded improvement within a limited time. KMT Taipei City Councilor Wang Hsin-yi stated through inquiry documents that at the time of the incident, a large number of people online and on-site reported not hearing any alarms or broadcasts. A dynamic public safety inspection by the Construction Management Office today confirmed that the automatic fire shutter at the 5th-floor escalator entrance failed to operate correctly, constituting a violation of the Building Act. Wang said the Fire Department had initially told the public that the fire alarm and broadcast systems were activated, but people on site reported not hearing them, showing a lack of a substantial verification mechanism and a flawed reporting process within the city government at the first instance. She pointed out that videos from the public showed the area was already filled with smoke, yet cinema staff were still asking customers what flavor of popcorn they wanted. The Fire Department should immediately review its internal administrative reporting and verification responsibilities and, in the future, implement a substantial verification mechanism to prevent a recurrence of discrepancies between reported information and the actual situation, she said. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi)