KAOHSIUNG — 2014 · Major Tragedy
The Kaohsiung Underground Gas Explosions
On the night of 31 July 2014 propylene leaking from underground pipelines triggered a series of massive explosions in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. At least 90 tonnes of gas had escaped from a pipeline carrying propylene to a petrochemical company's plant, spread for kilometres through storm drains, and met an ignition source about three hours after the leak began. The blasts tore apart more than six kilometres of roads in the Cianjhen and Lingya districts and damaged thousands of buildings. Thirty-two people, including firefighters, were killed and more than 300 injured. The disaster exposed ageing petrochemical pipelines beneath the city whose routes were not even fully mapped, and unclear responsibility between central and local government.
- Date
- 2014
- Place
- Cianjhen and Lingya, Taiwan, Kaohsiung, TW
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 22.6050, 120.3180 ↗
Timeline of Events
- Evening, 31 July 2014Residents reported a smell of gas in Kaohsiung's streets.
- Night, 31 July 2014A chain of explosions ripped through underground channels.
- August 2014The leak was traced to a propylene pipeline serving a petrochemical company.
- Following yearsPipeline oversight reforms and compensation litigation continued.
Sources
- ICLEI — Building back after the Kaohsiung gas explosions talkofthecities.iclei.org ↗
- Kaohsiung Times — Gas-explosion victims were paid years ago kaohsiungtimes.com ↗
- Wikipedia — 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions en.wikipedia.org ↗
- ICLEI
- Kaohsiung Times
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
Related Cases
More cases from the 2010s
Categories
Collections
🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.