Was the Tainan waste explosion due to 'residents being too honest'? Lee Chia-tung asks a rhetorical question: Who would dare dump waste in front of Taipei's Di Bao?

A massive explosion occurred early on the 22nd at a vacant lot on Section 2, Haizhuan Road in Annan District, Tainan City, involving magnesium-aluminum alloy waste. Intense flames and a loud blast injured 15 people, affected 11 households, shattered windows in 57 homes, and damaged 13 private vehicles and 11 fire department vehicles. In response, National Tsing Hua University honorary professor Lee Chia-tung posted on Facebook, stating that local residents are 'too honest'—how could they allow anyone to dump waste by the roadside? He posed a rhetorical question: 'Would anyone dare dump large amounts of waste in front of Taipei’s Di Bao residential complex?'

The site on Haizhuan Road in Tainan had waste materials illegally piled up, which caught fire, prompting over 100 firefighters to respond. Unexpectedly, at 2:44 a.m., a violent explosion occurred, with the blast heard up to one kilometer away. The Environmental Protection Bureau confirmed the burning waste consisted of illegally dumped aluminum-magnesium alloy scraps and waste oil originating from a company in Gushan District, Kaohsiung. The registered address of the company is now a hair salon, and the Wang-surnamed operator has left the country.

Regarding the incident, Lee stated that the explosion in Tainan fortunately resulted in no fatalities. He explained that industrial waste had been dumped roadside in the community, including materials capable of spontaneous combustion, which triggered the massive explosion. He criticized local residents for being 'too honest'—how could they allow anyone to dump waste by the roadside?

Lee, formerly president of Providence University, recalled discovering a garbage mountain outside the campus. Staff inspected it and found it filled with industrial waste. He immediately notified local authorities, who promptly removed it. He asked, 'Would anyone dare dump large amounts of waste in front of Taipei’s Di Bao?' We must make it clear that illegal dumping is a serious crime. Some people habitually ignore public issues, which is deeply wrong. Our indifference to public matters may ultimately harm ourselves.