Investigators suspect cigarettes or a spark caused the Taiwan fire that burned 498 people
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Investigators are looking into the possibility that the fire at a Taiwan water park party on Saturday was caused by a cigarette butt or a spark. The blaze, which sparked when colored powder sprayed from the stage caught on fire, burned 498 people and killed one person. Police are also considering pressing criminal charges against the organizer of the party and the two technicians responsible for the show, as they were previously informed that the colored powder was flammable, especially in hot temperatures. The park was ordered to close after the fire. Of the 498 burned, The Associated Press reports that "202 were badly injured, 236 were lightly or moderately injured, and 60 others were unclassified."Becca Stanek
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.