A series of gas explosions in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, has killed at least 22 people and injuring 270 others, local officials said.

A series of gas explosions in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, has killed at least 22 people and injuring 270 others, local officials said.

The exact cause of these explosions is uncertain, but reports said the explosion caused while gas pipes were cracked.

Taiwan television footage showed the devastating fire at the scene. In fact, the shock of the explosion caused dozens of car overturned and fell asphalt.

Taiwan National Fire Protection Agency said both the dead and the injured were transported to a nearby hospital.

"Local fire department received a complaint a gas leak on Thursday (31/07) night and there is also a series of explosions around midnight that impact on an area of ​​two to three square kilometers," said the National Fire Service.

large craters
"I watched the cars and motorcycles on the road and shattered doctors examining bodies strewn to determine whether they live or die," said Chen Guan-yuan, a resident, told the BBC.

Chen, who was there at the scene shortly after the blast said eruptions resulted in a big hole like a crater.

So far, berumlah killed 22 people, four of them firefighters.

The toll is expected to continue to grow given until 05:00 local time (04:00 GMT) the fire has not been able to put on two streets.
Based on the BBC monitoring in Taipei, Cindy Sui, firefighters were still working to find the dead or survivors in the rubble.

Taiwanese news agency, CNA, Chief District Cianjhen, said Jiang Yi-Whoa triggered a series of explosions suspected gas leak in an underground pipe network.
Hundreds of soldiers and firefighters from Tainan City and Pingtung City, Jiang continued, deployed to the scene.

To avoid additional victims, and the community in the District Cianjhen Lingya District in Kaohsiung City were ordered not to go to work or school. BBC