After convening an emergency meeting today following last night's explosion that injured hundreds at the Formosa Fun Coast theme park in New Taipei City, Premier Mao Chi-kuo directed Minister without Portfolio Yeh Shin-cheng to set up a task force to integrate government resources and provide assistance and follow-up guidance. This task force met with central government agencies and the New Taipei City government to discuss policies for safety management of large-scale activities, in particular improvement of safety measures after last night's explosion, which was triggered by flammable powder during a party.
At the meeting, the Executive Yuan said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has begun coordinating resources for skin transplants and other emergency medical supplies, adding that there are ample medical resources for follow-up treatment. Four medical centers have been asked to provide donor skin for emergency use, while the Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center, the Taiwan Society of Plastic Surgery, and the Taiwan Society for Burn Injuries and Wound Healing are working together to send donor and artificial skin from southern Taiwan to hospitals in the north, where doctors will decide on the appropriate procedure for each patient. Hospitals are also coordinating supplies for emergency burn treatment such as albumin infusion, biomaterials and water jet cutters (to clean wounds of debris).
The MOHW has instructed health departments in Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan to prepare local hospitals for additional patients. If necessary, regular beds should be upgraded to intensive care unit (ICU) specifications to treat and isolate burn victims. Hospitals in central and southern Taiwan were also instructed to stand by and take inventory of all their beds—including those for ICU purposes, burns, general surgery and reconstructive surgery.
The New Taipei City government has set up a service center and a special hotline for general inquiries. The city has also asked local prosecutors to detain the event organizer and begin procedures for making subrogation compensation. The Executive Yuan has directed central agencies to extend full support to the victims to protect their rights and ensure they receive compensation.
Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have notified families of victims from mainland China, Hong Kong and other countries. The agencies are helping the families travel to Taiwan and assisting with insurance and compensation matters.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Labor are helping the students and workers among the inured with follow-up medical care, schooling and employment matters. As of 6 p.m., June 28, the MOE confirmed that 205 students from 71 schools were injured in the accident. The priority for students right now is physical recovery, and the MOE will continue helping schools and families look after the students to make sure they receive the best care possible.
If it becomes necessary, Taipei and New Taipei will set up counseling centers for different school systems and arrange psychological and educational counseling sessions to serve students in different situations. University counseling centers in northern Taiwan can also be mobilized to provide psychological counseling. For students about to graduate, the MOE has instructed the K-12 Education Administration to extend flexibility about homework and attendance requirements.
The Tourism Bureau reported that the Formosa Fun Coast theme park has purchased public accident liability insurance as required by law and will act according to the terms of insurance policy. Per the Act for the Development of Tourism, the Tourism Bureau has also ordered the event organizer to immediately suspend operations and cooperate with investigators.
The Executive Yuan said a special hotline has been set up under the MOHW to provide additional service to victims. Patients or their families any questions or requests can call the Executive Yuan hotline at 0922-264-551.