The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office today searched the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taichung city chapter office and other locations and took away at least eight KMT staffers on suspicion of forged documents being used in recall campaigns Recall campaigns targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislators Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) are suspected to have involved the use of signatures from deceased people The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said in a press release today that they are investigating recall campaigns targeting the five legislators regarding allegations of violating the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) and using forged signatures after receiving reports from the Central Election Commission (CEC) offices and local branches of a political party KMT Taichung chapter director Yen Wen-cheng (顏文正) confirmed the search took place today and said the party is cooperating with the investigation Yang Ta-wei (楊大緯) and Chen Chien-feng (陳建鋒) second and third KMT Taichung city party committees respectively Taiping District (太平) director Wang Chung-hui (王忠輝) Fengyuan District (豐原) director Yu Chueh-an (余爵安) Tanya District (潭雅) director Chiu Shih-yi (邱仕誼) and Dali District (大里) director Hung Li-hsiang (洪麗香) Volunteers of civil groups leading recall campaigns targeting the three KMT Legislators were also reportedly summoned for questioning the number of forged signatures made up more than half of the total Tsai called on the prosecutors’ office and the CEC to clarify and investigate the issue given how unreasonable the situation is there were 66 signatures from deceased people adding that she has faith in the judicial process’ ability to uncover the truth Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) did not comment on the matter when asked by media today The recall conveners are inexperienced and so some flaws were expected the KMT Taichung branch said that the judicial process should remain fact-based and impartial calling on investigators to act fairly and avoid political persecution The party will continue to monitor the situation safeguard justice and work with other like-minded people to defend the rule of law and civil rights DPP Taichung City Councilor Wang Li-jen (王立任) said that there should be an investigation if there are suspicions of fraud expressing confidence that if the accused are innocent they would be cleared This is similar to KMT tactics in other alleged recall forgery cases in other counties May 3 (CNA) Two opposition Kuomintang (KMT) staffers have been detained for allegedly providing party member rosters to support recall petitions targeting two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers elected in Taichung The court order came Saturday evening after prosecutors sought the detention of Chen Chien-feng (陳劍鋒) and Wu Kang-lung (伍康龍) from the KMT's Taichung chapter accusing them of committing multiple offenses to promote recall campaigns against DPP legislators Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) unlawful use of personal data and the initiation of recall motions with falsified signatures Prosecutors accused Chen and Wu of violating the Criminal Code the Personal Data Protection Act and the Public Officials Election and Recall Act the Taichung Court stated that it found the prosecutors' request to detain Chen and Wu to have merit and granted the detention The court stated that detention was necessary due to concerns that both Chen and Wu might collude with others to fabricate testimonies or destroy evidence an official from the KMT's Taichung chapter the court stated that their involvement in the recall cases could undermine Taiwan's current electoral system Following a raid on the residences and offices of suspects in Taichung and Changhua on Friday Prosecutors sought a court order to detain Chen and Wu while releasing six other KMT staffers on bail ranging from NT$100,000 (US$3,219) to NT$200,000 with restrictions on leaving the country or boarding ships The remaining five were allowed to leave without bail after questioning prosecutors have initiated investigations into six individuals involved in the recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) Prosecutors have been criticized for holding the KMT accountable in efforts to deter recalls against DPP lawmakers while appearing lenient in recall cases targeting KMT lawmakers the Taichung District Prosecutors Office stated that it maintained a neutral stance when initiating probes into cases involving both the KMT and DPP and that it will continue to exercise caution Prosecutors launched the investigations after receiving a report from the Central Election Commission including having signatures of deceased individuals on the petitions According to data from the Central Election Commission the recall campaigns included signatures from 154 deceased individuals: 83 in the case against Tsai three against Liao and one each against Yen and Huang the roof wraps above and around the museum a multi-level public space is carved out to extend the museum’s program into the urban sphere functioning like a city plaza and a stage for hosting concerts this sinuous language extends into the programming which is hosted amid gently contorting exhibition halls and winding corridors and complemented by a signature curving staircase.  Kengo Kuma and Associates integrates a surface of soil into the roof structure to support a self-sustaining ecosystem of vegetation on top of it. Further, the CMP Inspiration museum decidedly keeps a low profile to minimize the imposing character of the urban development surrounding it. Structurally, the architects achieve this organic integration through a lightweight steel framework The 12-millimeter-thick polygonal steel base plates eliminate visual bulk allowing the surface to dissolve fluidly into the ground plane the interior spaces are also defined by twisted surfaces that subvert the conventional white-cube museum typology the galleries are conceived as a sequence of contorted rooms connected by a cavernous volume and organic transitional zones pleated walls and louvered ceilings echo the structure’s undulating form injecting warmth through layers of gently illuminated wooden panels.  Kengo Kuma and Associates completes CMP Inspiration sits at the intersection of Taichung’s Calligraphy Greenway and high-and mid-rise urban developments partially buried underground and topped with a roof that becomes the project’s primary architectural gesture a multi-level public space is carved into the greenery the space functions like a city plaza and a stage for hosting various events the organic new museum is conceived to dissolve into its urban context the 12-millimeter-thick polygonal steel base plates eliminate visual bulk the CMP Inspiration museum keeps a low profile to minimize the imposing character of the urban development injecting warmth through layers of gently illuminated wooden panels architect: Kengo Kuma and Associates | @kkaa_official construction: CEC (Continental Engineering Corporation) cooperation: EEC (Envision Engineering Consultants) exterior: H&A (Horizon & Atmosphere Landscape Co.) AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style About UsThe TeamOur ValuesAdvisory Panel Our Clients What is a Smart City? Terms and ConditionsCookie PolicyRegistrationLogin © 2025 SmartCitiesWorldSmart Cities World Ltd "+ articleTitle +" Photo courtesy of Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital is the latest in Taiwan to get validated for the HIMSS Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model The EMRAM measures an organisation's adoption and maturity of their EMR capabilities Tungs' Hospital was validated for Stage 6 of the EMRAM almost two years ago In preparing for the highest EMRAM stage validation revealed to Healthcare IT News that they adopted a "digital design thinking approach," focusing on closed-loop integrity and held regular meetings to ensure progress across all teams."  Key strategies in its preparation included the implementation of the Medi-SPAN clinical decision support system and digital patient portals and self-management tools HIMSS validators commended the hospital's holistic patient engagement strategy that incorporates several platforms One example they noted was the smart diabetes control system the system has led to a 53% increase in blood sugar monitoring among patients while the number of patients who achieved HbA1C level below 7% has also increased by around 68% Another example is a new digital patient self-assessment tool that was launched about a year ago It has also raised patient satisfaction by 90% HIMSS also found impressive the hospital's use of automation to complete documentation Tungs' Hospital's sustainability initiatives were also highlighted; it even received sustainable development awards from the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy and awards for energy conservation and afforestation from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs Tungs' Hospital will work on improving some processes including expanding CDSS workflows and introducing a data hub for better data analytics It is also keen to convert all data into digital formats The hospital also intends to raise patient uptake of digital applications to get them more involved in their care Tungs' Hospital is now preparing to undergo the validation for Stage 7 of the HIMSS Infrastructure Adoption Model we look forward to exchanging insights with experts from diverse fields and backgrounds to explore new trends and best practices in infrastructure development," said Dr Tung while Far Eastern Memorial Hospital is working towards Stage 7 "Achieving HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7 certification demonstrates that our hospital has reached an international standard in the field of digital medical informatics This includes robust information system security comprehensive digital tracking of clinical workflows the application of artificial intelligence in medical systems and smart clinical decision support functionalities," said the hospital's chief superintendent "This certification signifies that Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital has not only successfully established a comprehensive EMR system but has also enhanced healthcare quality and operational efficiency through advanced clinical decision support systems and big data analytics." Dr Tung admitted having encountered challenges particularly with resource planning and optimising processes the process required significant investment in manpower and financial resources They also had to continuously adjust workflows to maximise the benefits of system integration and form cross-departmental teams to ensure close integration of their new system with practical operations after fulfilling several requirements for Stage 7 EMRAM "significant improvements were observed in both clinical and operational outcomes."  "The comprehensive adoption of EHRs enabled faster and more accurate clinical decision-making improved operational efficiency reduced healthcare costs and optimised the utilisation of medical resources," he shared More Whitepapers More Webinars © 2025 Healthcare IT News is a publication of HIMSS Media Leading the way to greener and smarter mobility Our ambition is to accompany all transportation stakeholders in meeting tomorrow’s mobility challenges We strive to provide them with the most efficient and digital mobility systems while further improving the environmental friendliness of our solutions We offer products from the broadest portfolio range in the rail industry Our innovation focus is on green and smart solutions Our state-of-the-art signalling solutions allow operators to ensure the highest standards in safe seamless travel with urban and mainline solutions that meet the specific needs of each operation environment With the widest components portfolio in the rail industry Alstom offers the best solution available to original equipment manufacturers for increasingly safe and environmentally-friendly travel We offer a complete range of sustainable solutions for tracklaying electrification and the supply and installation of electromechanical material along the entire track We provide solutions to deliver security and fluidity to passengers and operations by optimising real-time performance in signalling and multimodality by offering connectivity and automating driving We offer a complete range of customised services including maintenance All of which ensure operators the highest level of availability for their fleets Drawing on our complementary business lines we offer bundled and fully integrated systems that include rolling stock This turnkey approach optimises project execution and transport system performance Find the latest Alstom press releases and news The one stop shop for all relevant information for investors and shareholders Access our financial & share information shareholders' meetings and investors' contacts & presentations Select the agenda platform you whish to add the event on : Alstom Equity Story Universal Registration Document 2023/24 including the annual financial report we value curious and innovative people who are passionate about working together to reinvent mobility where diverse people are offered opportunities to learn with options across functions and geographies 15 April 2025 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been awarded a contract worth €159 million[1] to provide high-capacity driverless signalling system for the upcoming Taichung Blue Line metro (MRT) a milestone project set to transform public transport across the city and beyond Alstom is part of a strategic international consortium chosen by the Rapid Transit System Bureau of Taichung City Government to deliver a complete metro system for what will become Taichung's second fully-fledged MRT line working with Singapore Technologies Engineering (STE) As the signalling consortium partner, Alstom will provide its Urbalis  CBTC[1] system the same successful platform already in operation on Taichung's Green Line The system will enable Blue Line trains to operate more frequently and precisely It will help to absorb the rising ridership as the city continues to expand The system maximises network capacity by allowing shorter headways which increases the frequency of trains and reduces commute time Spanning 24.8 kilometres and comprising 20 stations the Taichung Blue Line will link Taichung Port in the west with Taiwan Railway's Taichung Station in the east thereby creating a major connection between the present Green Line and the future Orange Line Supporting the Blue Line project with Alstom’s technology contributes to fulfilling the long-term goal of the government to create an integrated multimodal transit system for one of Taiwan's fastest-expanding metropolitan areas said: “Following the success of the Green Line we are honoured to continue our journey in Taichung with the new Blue Line Our Urbalis solution will deliver an efficient and reliable driverless signalling system through a high-quality solution and service excellence supporting our commitment to build a better connected future for the city.” With over 40 years of active presence in Taiwan Alstom has delivered signalling systems to the Taipei Metro line and continues to play a leading role in contributing to Taiwan’s future of public transport from automated metros to next-generation trams in addition to Taichung’s Green Line signalling system in revenue service Alstom also supplies the Urbalis Forward signalling solution in Taiwan for Taipei Wanda Phase 1 Phase 2 and Taipei Circular Line Phase 2 lines in construction as well as 35 Metropolis metro trainsets for the Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin Line With over 30 years of expertise in CBTC and the successful equipping of over 190 metro lines across 32 countries Alstom stands as a formidable leader in the mass transit market Our advanced Urbalis and Onvia technology positions us at the forefront of automation solutions for both urban and mainline rail systems Urbalis Forward™ and Onvia ™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group [1] Communication Based Train Control Nine people died Thursday in a massive fire in central Taiwan at a huge food-processing building that was under construction smoke rises from a food-processing building following a fire brokeout in Taichung rescuers work at the scene of a fire in Taichung rescuers rush to the scene of a fire in a food-processing building in Taichung rescuers and firefighters work at the scene of a fire in a food-processing building in Taichung Taiwan (AP) — Nine people died Thursday in a massive fire in central Taiwan at a huge food-processing building that was under construction Video posted on social media showed a wall of dark gray smoke and orange flames billowing out of one end of the five-story building in the city of Taichung The cause of the fire was undetermined but the Taichung government said it spread rapidly because of a large quantity of foam panels on site One person died after jumping from the third floor and the other victims were found by firefighters in a search that extended into the evening The building was being constructed for the PX Mart supermarket chain By 2025-04-15T09:15:00+01:00 TAIWAN: Rapid Transit System Bureau of Taichung City Government has awarded an international consortium a NT$60·8bn turnkey contract to supply the rolling stock and electrical systems for the MRT Blue Line automated metro project ST Engineering Urban Solutions’ S$1·4bn share of the contract includes project management and systems integration The contract starts in the Q2 2025 and runs for 14 years The city’s second metro line is to run 24·8 km from Taichung Port in the west along Taiwan Boulevard through the city centre to Taichung railway station in the east It will have eight elevated stations and 12 underground stations including an interchange to the Green Line at the City Hall There will be provision for an interchange with the planned Orange Line The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion promote the regeneration of older urban areas and support new development as part of the city’s ‘Happiness The engineering challenges are expected to be significantly greater than those of the Green Line railways and a river as well as complex geological structures The depot will be on a stepped site on the side of a hill TAIWAN: The Ministry of Transportation &Communications approved plans to build the Blue Line metro in Taichung on January 29 The city’s second metro line would run from Taichung Port in the west to Shalu and Xitun in central Taichung TAIWAN: Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp’s first metro line opened for revenue services on April 25 The NT$59·3bn Green Line runs 16·7 km from the high speed rail station in Wurih southwest of the city to Beitun station on Taiwan .. Site powered by Webvision Cloud As global attention to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continues to increase the Taichung City Government Tourism Bureau develops sustainable tourism creating travel models that comply with environmental protection Taichung City received the "2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories Award" honor and is simultaneously the only city among the six special municipalities to receive a "Superior" rating in the national Taiwan Tourist Shuttle evaluation the Tourism and Travel Bureau has assisted five businesses in obtaining the international GTS Green Travel Label and 57 low-carbon hotel certifications These achievements demonstrate Taichung's efforts in the field of sustainable tourism The Tourism and Travel Bureau invites tourists to visit Taichung during the Spring Festival and support low-carbon travel through tourist buses while exploring Taichung's natural scenery Tourism and Travel Bureau Director Mei-Hsiu Chen noted that Taichung City joined the Netherlands-based "Green Destinations Foundation" as an international member in 2023 introducing international certification systems through the Taichung International Flower Carpet Festival's implementation of sustainability concepts the city participated in the global Top 100 Destinations Stories competition standing out among 170 tourism destinations from 32 countries The award was received on December 11 last year in Punta Arenas making Taichung the first and only county or city government in Taiwan to receive this award Director Chen added that the Tourism and Travel Bureau organizes briefing sessions invites local tourism operators to understand international sustainable tourism trends collaborates with global organizations to hold training courses and assists tourism industry partners and government colleagues in obtaining international certifications These efforts have received widespread response and recognition from the industry 5 Taichung businesses successfully obtained the "2025 GTS Green Travel Label" international certification through the guidance mechanism further establishing Taichung's professional strength in the field of sustainable tourism with public-private cooperation jointly enhancing Taichung's visibility in the international green tourism market 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories Award Certificate 2025 Green Travel Label - Silver Level (Two Stars) Taichung Tourism Bureau Director Chen Mei-hsiu Delivering Encouraging Remarks Riding on the Houfeng Bikeway - Flower Beam Steel Bridge The project is projected to last about 14 years with operations slated to start in the second quarter of 2025 ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions business has secured a contract worth S$1.4bn ($1.03bn) from the Rapid Transit System Bureau of Taichung City Government in Taiwan to deliver comprehensive rail services for the upcoming Taichung MRT Blue Line This agreement is part of a collaboration with consortium partners Alstom Transport who will be responsible for the signalling system The contract is set to span around 14 years and is anticipated to commence in the second quarter of 2025 ST Engineering Urban Solutions will manage the overall project and systems integration The company will also supply rail electronics while overseeing the construction of the above-ground train depot ST Engineering Urban Solutions president Chew Men Leong said: “This win reflects our strong technical and engineering expertise and further affirms our reputation as a trusted provider of turnkey rail services with expertise in managing and successfully delivering large-scale rail infrastructure projects Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis “With an experienced and dedicated local team of experts in Taiwan we are fully committed to executing this project and delivering a world-class metro system that will improve connectivity and contribute to Taichung City’s development.” The Taichung MRT Blue Line will span 24.78km and feature eight elevated stations alongside 12 underground stations This fully automated line will connect the eastern and western regions of Taichung and will integrate with the existing Green Line thereby enhancing the overall capacity of the city’s public transport network upon completion ST Engineering Urban Solutions has previously provided rail electronics solutions for the Taichung MRT Green Line and has delivered full turnkey rail services for various projects across multiple Taiwanese cities In 2023, ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions secured a turnkey rail services contract worth more than $318.9m (S$430m) from the Kaohsiung City Mass Rapid Transit Bureau in Taiwan Nominations are now open for the prestigious Railway Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network The Taichung District Court yesterday granted the request of Taichung prosecutors to detain two Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) staff members suspected of falsifying signatures on petitions aimed at recalling two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers Chen Chien-feng (陳劍鋒) and Wu Kang-lung (伍康龍) from the KMT’s Taichung chapter allegedly committed multiple offenses to push recall votes against DPP legislators Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday The alleged offenses include contraventions of the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) and the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) Prosecutors asked the court for permission to detain Chen and Wu saying that it was necessary to prevent possible collusion and destruction of evidence Prosecutors on Friday questioned 13 people regarding alleged signature falsification in the recall campaigns against Tsai and Ho Six were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 (US$3,219 to US$6,438) and ordered not to leave the country Six people involved in a separate recall effort in Taichung against KMT legislators Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) were also questioned Prosecutors initiated the probes following a Central Election Commission report that cited allegations of forgery including petitions bearing the signatures of deceased people Prosecutors on Friday searched eight locations in Taichung and Changhua County including offices associated with “one or more political parties,” as well as residences and district offices of those questioned The probe showed that the recall campaigns had collected petitions bearing the signatures of 154 dead people The raids mirrored actions by prosecutors nationwide in the past few weeks prosecutors had also searched KMT chapters in Taipei The investigations have resulted in the detention of several KMT chapter officials including KMT Taipei chapter chairwoman Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹) The recall campaigns were started by the DPP with DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) in early January calling for a mass recall of KMT lawmakers May 3 (CNA) Prosecutors in Taichung have requested court approval to detain two opposition Kuomintang party staffers suspected of falsifying signatures on petitions aimed at recalling two lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chen Chien-feng (陳劍鋒) and Wu Kang-lung (伍康龍) from the KMT's Taichung chapter allegedly committed multiple offenses to push recall votes against DPP Legislators Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) They included offenses under the Personal Data Protection Act and the Public Officials Election and Recall Act arguing it was necessary to prevent collusion and destruction of evidence A total of 13 individuals were questioned by prosecutors on Friday regarding alleged signature falsification in the recall campaigns against Tsai and Ho in Taichung six were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 (US$3,244) to NT$200,000 and restricted from leaving the country or boarding ships The remaining five were allowed to go home after being questioned six individuals involved in the recall campaign against KMT Legislators Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) were questioned but all were allowed to return home afterward The prosecutors initiated the probe following a report from the Central Election Commission Raids by prosecutors on Friday targeted eight locations in Taichung and Changhua County including offices associated with "one or more political parties," as well as residences and district offices of those questioned According to the Central Election Commission's data the recall campaigns involved signatures from 154 deceased individuals The Taichung City Government's Bureau of Digital Governance was officially renamed the "Bureau of Digital Development" today (1st) with an unveiling ceremony held this morning Mayor Shiu-Yen Lu attended the ceremony and stated that since establishing the Bureau of Digital Governance two years ago Taichung has strategically upgraded from "governance" to "development" on its digital transformation foundation The Bureau of Digital Development will focus on AI not only continuing to provide various digital public services but also collaborating with industry and research sectors to transform Taichung's valuable digital transformation experience into digital industry development Mayor Lu said that Taichung is a livable and vibrant city with a population exceeding 2.86 million and it was recently rated as Taiwan's happiest city in multiple surveys Facing global digital transformation and international AI trends she proposed the strategic goal that "digital power is urban competitiveness," applying digital technology to city governance and pioneering the establishment of the "Bureau of Digital Governance" among local governments nationwide The bureau was the first department established during her term and the city government's 30th department now advancing further with its renaming to the "Bureau of Digital Development" to collaborate with industry and research sectors in advancing Taichung's smart city construction Mayor Lu also mentioned that over the past two years the Bureau of Digital Governance created the digital citizen platform "Taichung Pass" (TCPASS) serving not only significant events like the Taichung Shopping Festival and 2024 Taichung International Racing Exhibition but also integrating online applications and has received multiple international awards Regarding transparent governance and open government the bureau has also actively promoted GIS applications and open data receiving numerous national awards and establishing a solid foundation for "Smart Taichung." Mayor Lu noted that urban digital development is not limited to internal governance but includes development work requiring external collaboration the "Bureau of Digital Governance" has been officially renamed the "Bureau of Digital Development," with former Digital Governance Bureau Director Gu-long Lin continuing in his role The Bureau of Digital Development will build upon the Bureau of Digital Governance's achievements while transforming Taichung's valuable digital transformation experience into a continuously developing digital industry and research sectors to develop Smart Taichung further Mayor Lu also stated that the organizational business adjustment of the Bureau of Digital Development was not an easy task She expressed hope for continued guidance from academia and all citizens for their support during the organizational adjustment process as the changes required council approval of the self-governance ordinance for today's establishment of the Bureau of Digital Development She also thanked the bureau staff for their hard work affirming that the city government will continue advancing toward urban digital development to make Taichung even more innovative Bureau of Digital Development Director Gu-long Lin stated that the bureau's primary task is implementing sustainable net-zero policies through shared server rooms and virtual platforms to reduce energy consumption they will establish a "Net-zero Life Digital Points Platform" offering reward points to encourage citizens to implement carbon reduction in daily life and practice ESG actions Director Lin said that facing increasingly severe cybersecurity challenges the original Digital Convergence Section will be renamed the "Network Security Section." To protect government information and personal data security and enhance digital resilience the bureau collaborates with the National Center for High-Performance Computing under the National Science Council to initiate national-level backup mechanisms aligning with central government cybersecurity policies and research sectors to strengthen cybersecurity protection They actively promote zero-trust architecture implementation in various agencies' information systems to enhance government network service security comprehensively Director Lin indicated that after establishing the Bureau of Digital Development they would more actively engage with various sectors to advance Smart Taichung's development they will partner with Tunghai University to hold an "AI Superman Digital Camp" at Pingdeng Elementary School in  Huanshan  Village Heping District - Taichung's most remote area - allowing mountain children to receive the same AI education as urban areas They also plan to host the first Smart Taichung Digital Development Forum in early February inviting international scholars to focus on AI and research sectors to focus on Central Taiwan's industry's latest practices in three-axis transformation and look ahead to 2025 trends grasping concrete action plans for various industries' evolutionary competitiveness in the AI era After attending the city government's New Year's Day flag-raising ceremony Mayor Lu presided over the inauguration of the Bureau of Digital Development Attendees included Deputy Mayors Kuo-Jung Huang and Zhao-Xin Cheng; City Government Secretary-General Chong-Dian Huang; Deputy Secretary-General Yu-Hong Lin; Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Chi-Chen Chiang; Legislators Chiung-Ying Yang and Chien-Hao Huang; City Councilors Chung Li all gathering to witness this new chapter in Taichung's digital development Campaigners in a recall petition against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) in Taichung yesterday said their signature target is within sight and that they need a big push to collect about 500 more signatures from locals to reach the second-stage threshold Recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) and Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋) are also close to the 10 percent threshold and campaigners are mounting a final push this week They need about 800 signatures against Chiang and about 2,000 against Yang Campaigners seeking to recall Lo said they had reached the threshold figure over the weekend They would continue to collect signatures to be safe as some signatures could be invalidated and removed due to errors or incorrect information Campaigners in recalls against KMT legislators Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) said they had already reached the 10 percent requirement gathering 32,921 and 36,323 signatures respectively Campaigners in Hualien County yesterday said they had reached 32,766 signatures over the weekend in their drive to recall KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi campaigners against KMT lawmaker Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐) and suspended Taiwan People’s Party Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) said they had reached the threshold and delivered their petitions to the Hsinchu City Election Commission The group said they needed nearly 35,000 signatures but they were able to collect 53,131 signatures against Cheng and 51,419 signatures against Kao Recall campaigners in Taoyuan said they have reached the threshold for all six KMT legislators in the city Groups pushing for the recall of five KMT lawmakers in Taipei — Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) and Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) — said they have also reached required number of signatures May 2 (CNA) At least 10 individuals in Taichung and Changhua County were questioned by prosecutors on Friday in connection with alleged signature falsification in recall campaigns against lawmakers the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said the individuals are being investigated for potential violations of the Personal Data Protection Act and the Criminal Code related to document falsification An investigation is ongoing into reports of falsified personal information on recall petitions targeting five lawmakers without disclosing their names or party affiliations the investigation involved campaigns to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) and Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒) Searches were carried out at eight locations in Taichung and Changhua County earlier Friday including the offices of "one or more political party" as well as the residences and district offices of those individuals taken in for questioning prosecutors said without clarifying which party or parties were involved confirmed to CNA earlier in the day that the chapter's office had been searched by prosecutors Yen said the chapter is cooperating with prosecutors and police in the investigation KMT staff members Wu Kang-lung (伍康龍) and Yang Ta-wei (楊大緯) were among those taken in for questioning following the search the KMT Taichung Chapter said it respected the judiciary's handling of the case in accordance with the law but emphasized that the latter must uphold the principles of neutrality and fairness and should not be influenced or manipulated by political forces "Judicial procedures should be based on facts and centered on evidence and must not become a political tool used to suppress dissent or influence elections," it urged The raids in Taichung and Changhua came in the wake of similar incidents carried out recently by prosecutors in Taipei targeting allegations of fraudulent signature collection by KMT campaigns seeking to recall DPP lawmakers the Taichung City Government's Bureau of Digital Development held the inaugural "Smart Taichung Digital Development Forum" today (7th) exploring in depth the latest development trends in the three-axis transformation of AI Deputy Mayor Zhao-Xin Cheng noted that the city government aims for "digital power as urban competitiveness" in promoting smart city construction and has reached a consensus with Microsoft Taiwan on "smart government and AI sustainability" cooperation to enhance urban management efficiency while committed to implementing energy transformation and sustainable development concepts Today's forum invited heavyweight speakers from home and abroad including National University of Singapore Executive Vice President Zu-Han Chen Foxconn Group Chief Information Security Officer Wei-Bin Lee National Taiwan University Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering Professor Yun-Nung Chen Tamkang University AI Innovation College Dean Tsung-Han Lee Taichung Precision Machinery Sustainability Director Yi-Ying Huang Taiwan Net Zero University President Sheng-Yung Yang and TXOne Networks Taiwan Vice President Yi-Chun Kuo They shared the latest trends in digital sustainability and cybersecurity upgrades with over 500 representatives from industry Deputy Mayor Cheng emphasized that Taichung possesses advantages in transportation It attracts continuous investment from domestic and foreign manufacturers demonstrating undeniable urban competitiveness the Bureau of Digital Development has promoted cooperation with technology giants such as Microsoft they invited Vice President Zu-Han Chen to share Singapore's development experience as a reference for Taichung's smart city promotion Deputy Mayor Cheng mentioned that facing rapid AI development the Bureau of Digital Governance was renamed the "Bureau of Digital Development" on New Year's Day this year demonstrating the city government's emphasis on digital development the bureau will focus on guiding forward-looking technology into municipal governance and empowerment and promote information and communication application cooperation among industry and research institutions to assist Central Taiwan industries in moving toward digital transformation the city government should cooperate with technology giants such as Microsoft Taiwan to promote smart government and AI sustainability and cultivate cybersecurity and digital talents they also address the energy consumption issues of high-speed AI computing development Taichung City actively promotes renewable energy development establishing Taiwan's first locally government-led " Shishuike Creek Drainage Small Hydropower Plant." The project's second phase has officially commenced construction adding additional units for secondary power generation to enhance energy utilization efficiency This can produce over 1,000 green electricity certificates annually implementing energy transformation and sustainable water resource development Today's forum was attended by Deputy Mayor Zhao-Xin Cheng Environmental Protection Bureau Director Hong-Yi Chen Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Chia-Chun Chen National University of Singapore Vice President Zu-Han Chen Hon Hai Research Institute CEO Wei-Bin Lee National Taiwan University Computer Science Professor Yun-Nung Chen former Feng Chia University President Bing-Jean Lee Taichung University of Science and Technology President Tong-Hsiao Chen Systex Group Sustainability Director Huang Yu-Jen Tunghai University Library and Information Center Director Chao-Tung Yang AIDC Information Department Director Yi-Ding Fang National Taiwan University Advanced Public Transportation Research Center Executive Director Ya-Wen Chen Taichung City Industrial Association President Yung-Wei Lin Taichung Computer Association President Chun-Chung Wu Deputy Mayor Cheng Receiving Joint Interview Bureau of Digital Development Director Gu-Long Lin (Right) and National University of Singapore Executive Vice President Zu-Han Chen (Left) Receiving Joint Interview National Taiwan University Computer Science Professor Yun-Nung Chen Receiving Joint Interview April 27 (CNA) Nine people were injured after a runaway semi-trailer truck slammed into over 20 vehicles stopped at an intersection in Taichung's Shalu District The Taichung Fire Bureau said it received a report at 10:13 a.m about a large-scale car crash at the intersection of Xiangshan Road Section 7 and Pingxi Road and immediately dispatched eight fire trucks and five ambulances to the scene first responders transported nine injured motorists to Kuang Tien General Hospital's Xiangshan branch and were mostly suffering from cuts and bruises the accident appears to have occurred when a semi-truck experienced brake failure and lost control while traveling north on Xiangshan Road 11 motorcycles and one bicycle from behind resulting in multiple non-life-threatening injuries adding that the exact cause and legal responsibility for the accident are still under investigation Videos and photos of the accident scene showed multiple damaged vehicles fallen roadside trees and components from the semi's freight scattered widely across the intersection northbound traffic on Xiangshan Road was being redirected to Xitun Road to avoid the intersection (By Hau Hsueh-ching and Matthew Mazzetta) Police in Taichung yesterday credited a bank teller with helping to stop a man from wiring NT$120,000 to a person claiming to be able to diagnose and treat health problems using photographs of a person’s urine was lured into the scam after seeing an online ad for health treatments to restore health and vitality the Taichung Police Department’s Qingshui Precinct said After adding the company’s “guidance center” on Line Wang was contacted by a man who identified himself as a “professor,” and allegedly offered to remotely diagnose his health issues using photos of his urine after which he promised to send a medical ointment to be used for treatment Wang on Tuesday last week went to a local bank branch to wire the money and when asked about the purpose of the transfer he said that he was buying medical products the bank teller checked the transaction history of the recipient account and found that it had “abnormal cash flows.” The teller then called the police police officers found Wang on the phone with someone from the “company” and asked to speak with him of a company that acted as a reseller of healthcare products but when he was asked for the company’s tax number The police officers told Wang that it was a common scam while the bank teller showed him that the registered name and address of the recipient account did not match the information the man had given them over the phone Wang eventually agreed not to go through with the payment and the officers helped him block the company’s account on Line The police department urged members of the public to only seek medical treatment at accredited hospitals and clinics Three people remain in intensive care and one person is receiving treatment in a general ward after 11 people were injured in a multi-car crash in Taichung’s Shalu District (沙鹿) yesterday involving more than 20 vehicles A semi-trailer truck lost control and crashed into more than 20 vehicles at the intersection of Siangshan Road Sec 7 and Pingsi Road at 10:13am yesterday morning As the road’s speed limit enforcement equipment were destroyed in the crash police said they would dispatch more officers to increase traffic surveillance to prevent more accidents at the high-risk intersection Photo courtesy of a member of the public via CNA Based on a preliminary investigation by Qingshui Precinct of the Taichung Police Department driven by a 25-year-old man surnamed Hsieh (謝) is believed to have experienced brake failure before crashing into 10 cars The westbound direction of Siangshan Road Sec 6 is a long steep slope where rear-end crashes often occur mostly as heavy or large vehicles fail to brake in time the Taichung City Government Transportation Bureau said three accidents occurred on this stretch of road from this January and last month Last year the section saw a total of 17 accidents a decrease of five accidents compared to the previous year such as Jersey barriers installed to separate fast and slow lanes while vehicles weighing over 20 tons must use the outermost lane Police presence in the area has also been increased to enforce speed restrictions and signs installed warning drivers to test their brakes and use a low gear the bureau implemented adjustments to signal timing to ensure traffic flow ease congestion and reduce emergency braking The bureau said it would continue to review and adjust traffic control measures in the area police urged drivers of heavy-duty vehicles to regularly test and maintain their braking systems Police said they have installed an average speed monitoring system on a 1.7km stretch of Siangshan Road Sec 6 from Longjing District (龍井) to Shalu District An explosion at a department store in Taiwan on Thursday killed one person and left 11 others hospitalized A gas explosion at a department store in Taiwan on Thursday killed four people and left eight hospitalized The blast occurred at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city In this photo taken and released by Taichung Fire Bureau first responders survey the damage in the aftermath of an explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday This image taken from video by Taiwan’s TVBS shows the debris are strewn across the streets in the aftermath of an explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday CORRECTS DAY TO THURSDAY - This image taken from video by Taiwan’s TVBS shows the damaged facade of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store after an explosion in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday This image taken from video by Taiwan’s TVBS shows that a person walks past debris from an explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday In this image taken from video by Taiwan’s TVBS the debris are strewn across the streets in the aftermath of an explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday This image taken from video by Taiwan’s TVBS shows the damaged facade of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store after an explosion in Taichung city in Taiwan on Thursday The higher floors of the upscale department store were blown out Among the dead were two people visiting from Macau Local media reported that they were part of a family of seven who were there for tourism The other five were also injured are now being treated at local hospitals in Taichung but it’s not clear if the work was connected to the explosion Taichung Vice Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin told reporters at the scene “If it’s found there were illegal actions or parts that violated renovation regulations it will be dealt with appropriately,” Cheng said Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene at about 11:30 a.m Parts of the building’s exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters at the scene that she felt the shock at her office nearby She said the fire bureau would focus on a rescue operation first but an investigation was also underway and officers were checking whether there were other sources of danger Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said he had asked all relevant government agencies to investigate the cause of the accident This content references scientific 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All Rights Reserved. Eat This Not That is part of the Dotdash Meredith Publishing Family. Shin Kong Group (新光集團) president Richard Wu (吳昕陽) yesterday said the company would take responsibility for an apparent gas explosion that resulted in four deaths and 26 injuries at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store in Taichung yesterday. The Taichung Fire Bureau at 11:33am yesterday received a report saying that people were injured after an explosion at the department store on Section 3 of Taiwan Boulevard in Taichung’s Situn District (西屯). It sent 56 ambulances and 136 paramedics to the site, with the people injured sent to Cheng Ching Hospital’s Chung Kang Branch, Wuri Lin Shin Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital or Chung Shan Medical University Hospital. Fire Bureau Director-General Sun Fu-yu (孫福佑) said that the incident was allegedly caused by a gas explosion on the department store’s 12th floor. Renovation work on the 12th floor was ongoing when the blast occurred, but whether it was the cause remains to be investigated, he said. Wu arrived at the site and expressed concern to people who were affected, saying that Shin Kong Group would assist with the investigation and take accountability for providing compensation for the people who were injured. The company’s leadership yesterday offered NT$1 million (US$30,486) in compensation to each of the families of the people killed, and visited 25 injured people in hospitals to provide consolation money. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) said that the ministry has asked the Taichung Health Bureau to activate the mechanism for multiple casualty incidents. The ministry also asked the Regional Emergency Medical Operations Center’s Taichung Branch to assist with referral of patients, she said. The injured people would first be sent to emergency rooms with triage performed on them to divert them to suitable hospitals, Lin said, calling on the public not to rubberneck. A family of seven from Macau passing by the department store was struck by falling debris from the building due to the explosion. The debris killed the family’s grandparents and seriously injured the two-year-old granddaughter, with the rest of the family incurring lighter injuries. Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said the council’s Department of Hong Kong, Macau, Inner Mongolia and Tibetan Affairs has sent personnel to Taichung to learn more about the situation. The council would report the incident to the Macanese government and take proactive measures to help the family, including assisting their relatives to travel to Taiwan if needed, he said. The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said a task force of six prosecutors has been set up to collect evidence and conduct an investigation in collaboration with the police and the fire bureau. Taichung Labor Affairs Bureau Director Chiu Yi-chuan (邱怡川) said the initial investigation was conducted based on witnesses’ testimony, as the department store’s 12th and nearby floors were still locked down. The incident is suspected to be a dust explosion, given that fire sources such as welding activities were absent and there were no flames after the blast, he said. The cause of the incident cannot be confirmed before the results of the fire bureau’s investigation, Chiu said, adding that the ministry would look into whether the construction site on the 12th floor had fire-proof and explosion-proof equipment. An order to suspend the construction has been issued to the department store, he said. The company undertaking the construction work would be fined between NT$30,000 and NT$300,000 if the site is found to have contravened the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), he said. Additional reporting by Lu Yun-feng, Tsai Shu-yuan Twenty people were questioned late last night by the police as potential witnesses of the Taichung department store explosion earlier yesterday, prosecutors said. An apparent gas explosion on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang department store in Taichung yesterday resulted in four deaths and 37 injuries as of 6am today, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. The Taichung City Police Department later in the day summoned 20 department store employees, construction workers and Shin Chung Natural Gas employees for questioning. Sixteen of these people were then sent to the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office for further questioning and were released as witnesses, prosecutors said. The other four were allowed to leave without further questioning. The party responsible for the incident is yet to be determined, as the scene and sequence of events are still under investigation, prosecutors said. None of the people questioned have been named as defendants or had punishments imposed, they added. Among the witnesses, two construction workers from the 12th floor construction site had both sustained injuries. They had been working near the explosion site when the blast “suddenly occurred” and are unaware of any other details, they said. Some construction workers say they smelled gas before the explosion, according to reports from the prosecutors’ office. Shin Chung Natural Gas released a statement yesterday saying that the incident was unrelated to the company or natural gas. In related news, extended family members of a Macau family that was injured by the explosion are traveling to Taiwan today, the Mainland Affairs Council said last night. The family of seven was passing by the department store when they were struck by falling debris from the building due to the explosion. The debris killed the family’s grandparents and seriously injured the two-year-old granddaughter, with the rest of the family incurring lighter injuries. The Macau government was immediately informed of the incident, the council said. Council personnel were also sent to Taichung to visit the injured, it added. The government would assist with the family’s entry in Taiwan, visa situation, medical treatment, document verification, funeral arrangements and whatever else they require, the council said. Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (岑浩輝) extended his deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the incident in a speech last night. The relevant department should do their best to assist the injured and relatives of the deceased, he said. Staff from Macau’s tourism crisis assistance team, accompanied by Macau Red Cross staff, have contacted the Macao family involved in the explosion to provide all necessary assistance, Macau’s Government Information Bureau said today. The tourism crisis assistance team representatives arrived in Taichung yesterday evening, visiting the family members hospitalized due to the incident upon arrival, it said. President William Lai (賴清德) expressed his deepest condolences to those affected by the explosion today. Lai instructed Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to oversee relevant agencies in assisting the Taichung City Government to resolve any issues. Cho said he would visit the Taichung-Changhua-Nantou Regional Branch of the Workforce Development Agency to hear briefings on the rescue and response efforts following the explosion. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi apologized to the public and accepted full responsibility for the incident in a statement this afternoon. It would cooperate with the investigation and has established an emergency response team to assist the families of victims, affected employees and stores, the company said. It would implement flexible working arrangements to ensure that employees’ salaries and benefits remain unaffected, it said. The company also said it would compensate the families of those who died in the incident with NT$1 million (US$30,512). Additional reporting by Chang Jui-chen and Su Meng-chuan The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office today said that it has summoned 50 witnesses in the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi explosion case, but did not confirm a Liberty Times report that the gas valve on site had not been shut off. An exclusive report today from the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) said that the gas meter had been removed and the gas valve had not been shut off at the department store on the day of the incident. The office did not confirm the report, saying that a comprehensive investigation into all parties with potential criminal liability is ongoing. In a news release today, prosecutors confirmed that they summoned 50 witnesses, including on-site workers as well as representatives from Shin Chung Natural Gas Co and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, to clarify the cause of the gas explosion. Some of the witnesses had already been listed as defendants, and subsequent investigations would be conducted to clarify any criminal liability as soon as possible, prosecutors said. The explosion at the department store on Feb. 13 left five dead and more than 30 injured. In an investigation report released at the end of last month, the Taichung Fire Bureau confirmed the explosion was caused by gas and found evidence including cigarette butts, electrical wires, a gas pipe and a circular saw. Prosecutors said they formed a special task force to analyze the bureau’s report. The office is investigating based on all collected evidence, including looking into parties with potential criminal liability such as operators, contractors and construction teams, it said. The scope of accountability would only be determined once the investigation is complete, it added. As of yesterday, the investigation team had entered the site nine times and interrogated 50 witnesses a total of 64 times, prosecutors said. Taipei, March 13 (CNA) A gas explosion at a Taichung mall last month is being investigated as a case of negligent homicide, prosecutors said Thursday, while authorities in Macau announced that a toddler injured in the blast had died, bringing the death toll in the incident to five. In a statement Thursday morning, the Macau Government Information Bureau announced that a 2-year-old girl who suffered severe brain injuries in the Feb. 13 blast had died March 7 at Macau's Conde S. Januário Hospital. The girl underwent emergency surgery in Taiwan following the blast and was transported to Macau on a medical charter flight on Feb. 26. The toddler and her six family members were in Taiwan on vacation, and were walking by the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store when a gas explosion ripped through a food court area undergoing renovations on the building's 12th floor. The explosion sent debris flying down to the ground level, striking the 2-year-old and killing her grandmother and grandfather. The girl's mother, father, uncle and great-grandmother were also lightly injured. Two other people -- a 34-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman -- also died in the explosion on the 11th and 12th floors, respectively. Meanwhile, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said Thursday in an update on its investigation into the case that it had already interviewed 33 witnesses, but had not named any as suspects. The office said it is waiting for professional investigation units to complete their probe into the blast. Once the fire investigation report is complete and there is a clear understanding of what caused the explosion, it will be possible to pursue those responsible, it said. Regarding the news of the toddler's death, the prosecutors' office said it would remain in contact with the girl's family or lawyers regarding the case's next steps. The explosion is currently being investigated as a case of negligent homicide, negligence resulting in injuries and public endangerment, prosecutors said. (By Su Mu-chun, Hao Hsueh-ching and Matthew Mazzetta) it added.One of the injured was in intensive care in hospital the health ministry said.Writing on his Facebook page Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called for a speedy investigation into the cause of the blast.Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved April 21 (CNA) Police in Taichung on Monday credited a bank teller with helping to stop a man from wiring NT$120,000 (US$3,699) to a person claiming to be able to diagnose and treat health problems using uploaded photos of a patient's urine According to the Taichung Police Department's Qingshui Precinct was lured into the scam after seeing an online ad for health treatments to restore patients' health and vitality After adding the company's "guidance center" on Line Wang was contacted by a man who identified himself as a "professor," and offered to remotely diagnose his health issues via uploaded photos of his urine Wang went to a local bank branch last Tuesday to wire the money he explained that he was buying medical products The bank teller convinces the man to refrain from making a wire transfer after looking through the messages from scammers on the man's phone Photo courtesy of a local residenceSuspecting a possible scam and found that it had "abnormal cash flows." The teller then called the police to the scene police officers found Wang on the phone with someone from the "company" and asked to speak with him of a company that acted as a reseller of health care products but when he was asked for the company's tax ID number The police officers explained to Wang that this is a common scam technique while the bank teller showed him that the registered name and address of the recipient account did not match with the information the man had told them over the phone and the officers helped him block the company's account on Line the police department reminded members of the public to only seek medical treatment at accredited hospitals and clinics The public should not credulously believe in folk remedies or other superstitious practices which can not only harm one's health and finances but can also be used by interested parties to commit fraud (By Hao Hsueh-ching and Matthew Mazzetta) 14 (CNA) Investigations into the deadly gas explosion at a Taichung mall on Thursday are ongoing with 16 witnesses released Friday morning after overnight questioning None of the released have been named as suspects and the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said that investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing Feb. 13: Taichung department store ordered to suspend operations after fatal explosion The 16 people questioned included construction workers and staff from the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store as well as employees of Shin Chung Natural Gas Co. Two of the individuals were working at the site of the explosion and sustained injuries to their hands and legs They said the blast happened suddenly but did not provide more details The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the explosion had resulted in four deaths and 37 injuries as of 6 a.m Two of the deceased were an elderly couple from Macau who were hit by falling debris They were part of a family of seven visiting Taiwan The other two people were working in the mall A woman was found on the stairs between the 11th and 12th floors and was believed to be inspecting the construction site A man was found near the 12th-floor safety ladder on the 12th floor of the Taichung department store The floor was undergoing construction and was closed to the public Video footage of the explosion showed debris blasting from the building and scattering onto the streets below The windows and exterior walls of the 12th floor were blown off the director-general of the Taichung Fire Bureau told CNA that fire investigators had determined that the point of the explosion was on the 12th floor An aerial thermal imaging is taken on the site of Thursday’s incident Photo courtesy of the Taichung Fire BureauInitial investigations of the scene showed no explosives or evidence of a dust explosion As construction workers at the site told prosecutors that they smelled gas the explosion is initially deemed to be a gas explosion A dust explosion happens when fine combustible particles in the air ignite issued a statement on Thursday saying the gas pipes had been sealed off two days before the explosion took place Sun said further investigation is needed to ascertain whether residue gas in the pipelines caused the fire The department store was ordered to suspend operations Thursday and will not reopen until it is deemed safe to do so The mall will likely be hit with a fine of NT$1.2 million (US$36,590) This includes a NT$600,000 fine from the Fire Bureau NT$300,000 from the Urban Development Bureau and NT$300,000 from the Labor Affairs Bureau The mall has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has also extended its condolences to the surviving family members visiting from Macau and said it would assist them in whatever necessary 13 (CNA) Two members of a Macau family were killed and five others injured in the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store gas explosion on Thursday Also read: Taichung department store ordered to suspend operations after fatal explosion The grandfather was pronounced dead at the scene while the grandmother suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and was proclaimed dead at the hospital vice president of Cheng Ching Hospital Chung Kang Branch Their 2-year-old granddaughter was taken to the hospital by her mother and was found to have serious head and back injuries She was later transferred to China Medical University Hospital where her parents -- both lightly injured -- accompanied her The girl's uncle suffered from light grazes and lacerations to his face is being treated and is in a stable condition The seven family members were passing by the department store on their way to another department store when the 12th-floor explosion caused debris to fall from the building The city government will contact all those injured and their families to offer condolences It added that Shin Kong Mitsukoshi will be held fully accountable for compensation and medical expenses First responders tend to victims at the scene of the incident on Thursday all search and rescue missions have concluded and no more individuals are trapped in the building The Taichung City Government Fire Bureau said the incident resulted in 4 deaths and 26 injuries Taichung Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin (鄭照新) told the press that structural and civil engineers have entered the site to examine the building structure the explosion's origin and its cause are all being investigated by the government and prosecution The city will make every effort to investigate the accident Video footage of the explosion showed debris falling from the building onto the streets The windows and exterior walls of the 12th floor were blown off during the blast A fire broke out at a residence in Taichung's Dali District (大里) overnight killing a 26-year-old mother and her two daughters The Taichung Fire Department responded to the fire that broke out at 12:10am by sending 21 fire vehicles and 48 firefighters to the scene they saw smoke and flames coming from a sheet metal-covered unit built on top of a two-story brick building on Zhongxing Road The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes and fully extinguished by 12:40am adding that the blaze consumed furniture and miscellaneous items a seven-year-old and a 26-year-old — were discovered in a room in the third floor structure They were later identified as a mother and her two daughters None of them had vital signs and were pronounced dead at the scene Firefighters found that the front section of the third-floor unit was set up as a shrine and that the mother and her daughters lived in a room behind it They suspect that the three were asleep when the blaze occurred and were unable to escape in time A preliminary investigation by police identified the homeowner as the mother's boyfriend The cause of the fire is still being investigated In what appears to be a construction-related accident an explosion at a mall in Taiwan killed four people an injured dozens including tourist The cause of the blast which took place in Taichung a city on the western side of the Asian island about 100 miles off the county of China According to Reuters the blast took place on the building's 12th floor The explosion caused damage from the ninth floor upwards the fire department said in a statement obtained by the outlet and two of the fatality victims and an five or the injured were tourists from Macau The Chinese region is on the south coast of the country Taiwan President Lai Ching-te , in a post on Facebook ordered local officials to swiftly investigate the cause of the blast "I also remind everyone not to go near the accident site so as not to affect the disaster relief and take into account your own safety," the country's president wrote in the post Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund 13 (CNA) One person died and 10 others were injured in a suspected gas explosion at a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung Update 2: 4 dead, 20 injured in Taichung mall blast Four people apparently were blown out of the windows on the 12th floor of the department store in the city's Xitun District Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung's Xitun District 2025First responders arrive on scene at Taichung's Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Xitun District 2025The bureau said it received a report of the blast at 11:33 a.m and immediately dispatched firefighters and ambulances to the scene rescue efforts were still ongoing and the cause of the explosion had not been confirmed At 1:47 AM on September 21, 1999, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked central Taiwan The so-named "921 Earthquake" marked Taiwan's deadliest natural disaster since its predecessor The 1935 earthquake killed more than 2,400 people and caused over 100,000 people to lose their homes including Guangfu Junior High School in Wufeng which is now the home of the 921 Earthquake Museum.  The architects designed it to symbolize stitching the Earth’s wound with steel cables rather than beams and columns.  Guangfu Junior High School is a striking site of collapsed buildings serving as a sobering reminder of the earthquake’s power Many visitors recall that the quake struck in the middle of the night but had it occurred during the day—when students would have been in class—the casualties could have been much worse The museum campus hosts several other educational facilities Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experiment with various structural reinforcements to make buildings more earthquake-resistant. Visitors will find a tuned mass damper, a device that reduces structural vibrations by absorbing and dissipating energy making skyscrapers better able to withstand strong tremors. Another notable display is a section of railway track from the nearby Jiji Line which the earthquake's force twisted into an s-shape The museum is part of the National Museum of Natural Science Admission for adults is NT$50 ($1.50 USD) and NT$25 for children ($.25 USD) The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m and a glimpse into Taiwan’s military dependents' village culture One of the best collections of Byzantine art housed in a magnificent A hand-painted advertisement for chocolate adorns the walls of this historic building An institution dedicated to the towering buildings that make up skylines in New York City and around the world This ornate Weser Renaissance house was also the home of an infamous witch hunter The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command A raised Japanese building has preserved 8th-century artifacts for more than a millennium earning this log cabin a reputation as the "world's oldest museum." Roma who struck it rich in the 1980s built extravagant mansions in this small Romanian town One of the oldest universities in the world exhibits thousands of specimens from its 700-year-old collection 19 (CNA) The death toll from a fire at an under-construction processing center belonging to supermarket chain PX Mart in Taichung on Thursday rose to nine that evening The five bodies were found at around 7 p.m Thursday on the third floor of the new processing center being built by PX Mart subsidiary Sunmake Enterprise Co. after a body was found on the fourth floor less than two hours earlier according to the Taichung City Fire Bureau The three other fatalities were individuals found without no vital signs who were pronounced dead after being taken to two nearby hospitals A total of 107 firefighters were dispatched to the site in Taichung's Dadu District after the fire was reported to the authorities at 1:24 p.m. The two hospitals said they have also been treating eight people who escaped the fire mostly for heavy smoke inhalation caused by the fire An executive surnamed Wu (吳) from the construction company told reporters Thursday evening that he apologized for the deadly incident adding that the company will take on the responsibility of paying compensation to those injured or killed in the blaze and look after their families The fire took place when the company was installing freezers at the processing center Engineers from the company have been assisting firefighters and further investigations will determine what caused the fire Photo courtesy of Taipei City Fire Bureau Dec 2024An executive (front) of the construction engineering company responsible for the Taichung PX Mart facility bows his head in apology 2024PX Mart said in a statement that no employees of the supermarket chain were at the construction site which is near an existing processing center used to prepare fresh fish and meat supplied to its stores in central and southern Taiwan The supermarket chain also responded to earlier media reports about Styrofoam boards scattered on the construction site saying only fire-resistant materials used to pave the floor and build the ceilings were at the scene PX Mart will help the construction company and cooperate with the authorities in their investigations into the deadly fire Prosecutors at the district prosecutors office in Taichung were at the site to examine the scene of Thursday's fire for the office's own investigations to determine liability in potential legal proceedings in the future currently has over 1,200 branches around Taiwan according to the figure mentioned in a sales campaign in early December Its existing processing center in Dadu remains the chain's largest since it was opened in November 2011 PXMart President Tony Tsai (蔡篤昌) told a local business news website in May 13 (CNA) Several people were reported injured following a suspected gas explosion at a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung's Xitun District The Taichung Fire Bureau received a report of the blast at 11:33 a.m and firefighters and ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene Several people are injured at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung's Xitun District 2025Taichung's Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Xitun District 2025The number of casualties has yet to be confirmed but several people have been reported injured UpdateFeb. 13: One dead, 10 injured in explosion at Taichung department store 1875TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Commercial Vehicle Show is being held at Taichung International Exhibition Center from Thursday through Sunday The exhibition features trucks, electric vehicles, camper vans, and heavy-duty trucks from countries including Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan. The event is expected to draw over 30,000 visitors and generate more than NT$1 billion (US$30.77 million) in deals, per CNA.  the vehicle sector is transforming in response to global sustainability and carbon reduction goals This year’s show focuses on energy-efficient vehicles and cold chain technology for logistics vehicles Organizers said the event also includes autonomous vehicle test demonstrations and showcases of Taiwan-made models presents its low-carbon two- and three-wheeled vehicles displays its autonomous electric vehicle and a new battery technology Taiwan Smart Electric Bicycle Association is leading members Aeon Motor Co. to showcase their latest e-bike and e-cargo bike innovations Visitors can explore these Taiwan-made models Approximately 10 forums will be held during the event and officials from the transportation and economic ministries Topics will include the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles the impact of AI and carbon reduction trends on the transportation sector the role of automation in improving road safety and the future of electric logistics vehicles Taiwan Cold Chain Association is presenting refrigerated and frozen trucks offering reliable preservation solutions for food and beverage businesses director-general of the highway transportation department at the transportation ministry attended the opening ceremony and said the ministry will continue to promote electric vehicle adoption support the development of Taiwan-made EVs and launch a low-carbon transportation network Taichung’s Transportation Bureau Director Yeh Chao-fu (葉昭甫) also attended the show and added that the city’s public buses served over 82 million passenger trips last year The bureau is showcasing the city’s electric buses at the event offering visitors the chance to ride and try the onboard electronic payment systems Taiwan’s Foxconn expects strong growth from electric vehicle sector Taipei installs over 1,200 EV chargers in public parking lots Taiwan to collect vehicle license plate taxes in April Gogoro flash mob attracts over 2,000 riders in Taipei Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index Rising Taiwan dollar over Trump tariffs has pros and cons Charges including negligent homicide would be considered in the investigation of a Taichung mall explosion last month that killed five people the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said Among the people who were killed in an explosion at a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store in Taichung on Feb 13 was a two-year-old girl from Macau who died on Friday last week The Macau Special Administrative Region Government offered its condolences to the family in a statement today and said it is providing psychological support and bereavement counseling The prosecutors’ office said that it has so far questioned 33 witnesses Due to the large scale and complex nature of the explosion site prosecutors would wait for the official Taichung Fire Bureau report before pursuing legal action the office would continue to communicate closely with the bereaved family in Macau and their lawyers The case would be investigated under potential charges of negligent homicide The fire bureau would cooperate with the investigation led by the prosecutors’ office with assistance from the National Fire Agency to discover the cause of the explosion Taichung Fire Bureau Chief Sun Fu-yu (孫福佑) said The bureau has already conducted 11 on-site investigations and has five items undergoing forensic examination by the National Fire Agency and the Criminal Investigation Bureau Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store today released a statement offering its deepest condolences for the passing of the two-year-old girl and said it would continue to provide support to the family The vacationing family of seven from Macau were walking past the mall when the explosion happened The two-year-old girl was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition 26 she was transferred to a hospital in Macau 31 (CNA) Eight family members in Taichung were hospitalized for suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning early Friday and have stabilized after treatment According to Tungs' Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital the victims are from Wuqi District and range in age from 7 to 50 They experienced symptoms such as dizziness and limb weakness before the local fire department was notified at 3:13 a.m The patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy and were later kept in for further observation An initial investigation by the Taichung City Fire Bureau found that an outdoor gas water heater installed on the rear balcony may have caused the incident Gas detectors at the scene recorded a CO concentration of 110 parts per million (ppm) well above the average indoor level of 0.5 to 5 ppm Poor ventilation on the balcony likely caused a CO buildup which drifted indoors to the fourth floor of the five-story building where the family lives Taiwan's Indoor Air Quality Act states the permissible CO level is an average of 9 ppm over eight hours Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen met with Director Matthieu Baudouin A Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and Representative Yip Wei Kiat of the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei to express appreciation for their support of the 2024 Taichung Shopping Festival and to exchange views on global trade challenges stemming from rising U.S Mayor Lu also called for deeper economic ties with Belgium and Singapore through joint exhibitions and enhanced business incentives Mayor Lu sincerely thanked the three representatives for appearing in the international promotional videos of the 2024 Taichung Shopping Festival Each video garnered over 250,000 views online significantly boosting the festival’s global visibility with total registered spending reaching NT$35.3 billion The “Taichung Pass (TCPASS)” app recorded more than 2.8 million downloads and over 1.65 million registered members the festival drew 2,784 foreign visitors from over 40 countries generating NT$43 million in recorded spending News and information was even shared across 47 countries and regions and reached over 500 hotels throughout Asia Mayor Lu emphasized that these efforts not only showcased the culinary and cultural highlights of Belgium but also reinforced Taichung’s image as a dynamic international city Mayor Lu highlighted Taichung’s close relationships with Belgium As countries worldwide grapple with the impact of increased U.S many are exploring strategies for mitigation Mayor Lu used the opportunity to seek insights from the three representatives on how to best navigate these challenges Underscoring the notion that "crisis brings opportunity," she urged for enhanced economic cooperation with Belgium and Singapore to diversify Taiwan’s international trade partnership Mayor Lu also announced that the city government has formed an “Emergency Response Team” and launched six major strategies in response to current trade uncertainties These strategies aim to diversify export markets and reduce reliance on U.S The city will subsidize Taichung-based businesses for participation in international trade shows Mayor Lu expressed her hope for closer collaboration with foreign representative offices in Taiwan facilitating mutual participation in exhibitions and creating new business opportunities According to the Taichung City Government Economic Development Bureau all three representatives expressed optimism about expanding cooperation Taichung is widely regarded as a hub for industry and investment and Singapore already operating in the city many Taiwanese businesses have established successful ventures in these countries The representatives expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration to strengthen economic and trade ties The Economic Development Bureau highlighted several notable examples of foreign investment in Taichung such as Mitsui Fudosan and MGC Pure Chemicals have established a strong presence in the city Belgian companies are actively players in industries like offshore wind energy Singaporean businesses are involved in areas such as software services One recent milestone is Singapore’s ST Engineering Urban Solutions securing the turnkey contract for the Taichung MRT Blue Line BM01 project The meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayors Huang Guo-Rong and Cheng Chao-Hsin and Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-Yuan The discussions were both dynamic and constructive highlighting the shared commitment to strengthening cooperation Advertorial by Economic Development Bureau The Control Yuan has censured the Taichung Labor Affairs Bureau for failing to properly safeguard two Indonesian migrant caregivers who were subjected to abuse and forced labor Control Yuan members said in a statement on Friday that the bureau conducted rather perfunctory inspections of migrant caregivers and missed critical opportunities to intervene failing to protect their rights and committing serious negligence had water forcefully sprayed into her mouth and was forced to work up to 21 hours a day without receiving full pay “W,” also endured exploitative labor conditions Although the labor bureau conducted an initial interview with “S,” it failed to detect any signs of abuse partly because her employer closely monitored the visit “S” arrived in April 2022 to care for a family member in her employer’s household she was physically abused by three members of the family Authorities later identified her as a victim of human trafficking “W” arrived in Taiwan in January 2022 to care for a fully dependent person She was reportedly forced to work from 6:30am to 11pm every day and was also asked to carry out medical procedures such as phlegm suctioning Despite “W” filing complaints starting in May 2022 the Taichung authorities failed to conduct timely inspections The bureau did not follow up via phone either adding it only inspected the case after “W” had already left her job missing the chance to assess her working conditions firsthand the agency receiving the censure must promptly implement appropriate corrective measures and provide a written response to the Control Yuan If the agency fails to respond with improvements or does not provide a written reply within two months issue a written inquiry or summon the responsible official for questioning April 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Control Yuan has censured the Labor Affairs Bureau of Taichung for failing to properly safeguard two Indonesian migrant caregivers who were subjected to abuse and forced labor Control Yuan members said the bureau conducted rather perfunctory inspections of migrant caregivers and missed critical opportunities to intervene had water forcefully sprayed into her mouth and was forced to work up to 21 hours a day without receiving full pay "W," also endured exploitative labor conditions Although the labor bureau conducted an initial interview with "S," it failed to detect any signs of abuse "S" arrived in April 2022 to care for a family member in her employer's household "W" arrived in Taiwan in January 2022 to care for a fully dependent individual She was reportedly forced to work from 6:30 a.m Despite "W" filing complaints starting in May 2022 the bureau did not follow up via phone either It only inspected the case after "W" had already left her job March 28 (CNA) The explosion at the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store last month that left five people dead was caused by a gas leak an official fire investigation report confirmed Friday In a brief statement that touched on the report's findings the Taichung Fire Bureau said it had concluded its investigation into the Feb 13 blast and that it was caused by a gas explosion The statement did not provide any other details from the report and a circular saw as key evidence found at the scene The report itself was not released publicly and instead will be handed over to prosecutors for further examination and potential legal action against those responsible sources familiar with the matter told CNA that the leak likely occurred because of an internal project in the department store The sources said the department store had commissioned Shin Chung Natural Gas Co to shut off the main gas supply due to planned layout changes But residual gas is suspected of having remained in the branch pipes which were not purged before construction work began accumulated gas at the site ignited when a grinder was used to cut the pipes and created sparks the explosion is currently being investigated as a case of negligent homicide negligence resulting in injuries and public endangerment The floor was undergoing construction work and was closed to the public Among the victims of the severe blast was a family of seven from Macau who had been passing by the department store at the time was airlifted back to Macau for treatment but succumbed to her injuries on March 7 Jefferson "Yiyo" Obando spotted this Ollie over the double rails outside a Taichung Starbucks I tried shooting it from inside with a wide angle lens sitting at a table with Caroline Duerr.  These stairs and rails were at a no longer used train tracks turned into a walkway We were here for hours and logged tons of clips Rodrigo Cabrejas and Eugenia Ginepro.  I might have tried shooting this with a fisheye but Jefferson broke it the day before in Taipei.  Brandon Bonner eyed up this Ollie over the neck-high rail Luckily my strobes lit him up well enough even if he's a bit obscured by the trees.  We skated just down the street to find this steel wallride spot Tour captain Josh Zickert slithers up frontside.  His dog had no problem riding on his scooter.  Eugenia Ginepro getting some frontside.  Brandon Bonner going backside.  Brandon Bonner popping a backside Ollie.  The steel wallride was right on the river/creek that runs through Taichung.  owner of Mantis Skateshop and Trap Skateboards in Hamburg Germany getting some on the steep bank.  Our hotel in Taichung had roof access with a nice view so I wanted to get a crew shot up there before leaving the city Rodrigo chillin' before the rest of the crew made it up.  Keep up with all the Taiwan tour episodes: Check out thier Germany tour from last year: By Blair Alley is the Content Director for TransWorld SKATEboarding The central government would assist local governments to enhance public safety President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday as he visited people in hospital who were injured in an explosion at a department store in Taichung on Thursday A suspected gas explosion occurred on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang department store in Taichung at 11:33am on Thursday Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed Photo courtesy of the Taichung City Government Three died after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests 25 of those injured had been discharged from hospital with five in intensive care units and six in general wards Lai visited Lin Shin Hospital and Taichung Veterans General Hospital yesterday morning Many people are very concerned and saddened about the incident at the department store Lai said that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has instructed the National Fire Agency and the ministry to help the Taichung City Government enhance its fire control disaster relief and medical treatment procedures “I hope Premier Cho will also instruct government agencies to assist local governments to ensure public safety great societal loss and great harm to families,” Lai said “We must enhance the prevention of occupational incidents including paying attention to construction procedures Lai wished the patients a speedy recovery and thanked Taichung City Government officials healthcare practitioners and volunteers who helped at the scene and in hospital The Taichung Fire Bureau on Friday said that its initial findings on the cause of the department store blast was a possible gas leak as interior renovations were being done on the 11th and 12th floors Changhua Christian Hospital yesterday awarded Gou Yun-hsuan (郭芸?) and Su Yi-fan (蘇奕帆) — nurses from its Emergency Department — a cash gift of NT$100,000 for voluntarily performing emergency treatment for people outside the department store immediately after the explosion The two nurses were shopping at the department store at the time and rushed to the first floor and helped perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an injured person Hospital superintendent Chen Mu-kuan (陳穆寬) said it was rewarding Gou and Su for their bravery and selfless dedication to saving lives the hospital expresses its gratitude and hopes to convey its belief that the value of healthcare practitioners is not limited to hospital buildings but that they can save lives at any place at any time Shin Kong Mitsukoshi pledged to give the families of the four people who died NT$11 million (US$335,673) each comprising condolence money and insurance payments are to “express its deepest sympathy and support for the victims’ families,” it said in a statement The families are being assisted in dealing with the aftermath adding that it is also providing all necessary support and assistance to ensure the working rights of its staff are not affected Deceased KMT members appeared on lists of recall signatories 1685TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Two Kuomintang officials in Taichung have been detained following allegations of forgery with recall campaigns targeting two Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers The Taichung District Court approved prosecutors’ requests for the detention of Chen Chien-feng (陳劍鋒), secretary of the Taichung City party branch, and KMT official Wu Kang-lung (伍康龍), the Liberty Times reported 83 and 66 signatories of the recall petitions had been found to have died before the petitions were filed The latest detentions followed a spate of similar investigations into the handling of recalls by local KMT branches in other cities Taichung prosecutors raided eight locations in the city on Friday and questioned nine KMT officials listed as defendants and four witnesses overnight Investigators wanted to detain Chen and Wu because they were suspected of having copied names from KMT membership lists onto the lists of recall signatories The two officials could be facing charges of forgery and breach of privacy six were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 (US$3,250) to NT$200,000 and barred from leaving the country while one defendant and the four witnesses were allowed to return home KMT officials questioned for recall petition fraud in Taichung New Taipei KMT official detained over recall forgery allegations KMT lawmaker accused of pressuring mining firm to drop lawsuit June deadlines for stage 2 recalls of 50 lawmakers Taiwan premier promotes NT$410 billion budget plan to lawmakers Prosecutors raid New Taipei KMT office in recall petition probe April 23 (CNA) A man convicted of stabbing two passengers on the Taichung Metro who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December last year has received a reduced sentence of nine years and nine months after reaching a settlement with one of the two victims according to a statement issued by the High Court's Taichung Branch on Wednesday The 20-year-old man surnamed Hung (洪) was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempted murder and endangering public safety after the attacks on a Taichung Metro train last May in which he stabbed a 27-year-old man surnamed Hsu (許) and a 17-year-old high school student surnamed Lu (呂) after considering that Hung has reached a settlement with Lu the court decided to reduce the sentence for attempted murder the types and sharpness of the knives he used and the fact he stabbed the upper body and head of the victims the high court ruled that Hung did intend to kill people adding that Hung's denial of attempted murder was determined to be not credible Lu's father told a CNA reporter over the phone that his son decided to forgive Hung when Hung used three knives to randomly attack passengers on a Taichung MRT train Hung told prosecutors he was dissatisfied with the state of Taiwan's society and wanted to make a statement by killing someone He chose to carry out the assault on the 10th anniversary of a notorious Taipei Metro attack during which a passenger named Cheng Chieh (鄭捷) killed four people and injured 22 in a stabbing frenzy on a Taipei MRT train on May 21 Hung was charged with attempted murder and public intimidation in June last year 16 (CNA) Eleven people injured in a deadly gas explosion at a Taichung mall on Thursday remain hospitalized including a 2-year-old girl from Macau who is in intensive care the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said Saturday the 2-year-old is being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Taichung's China Medical University Hospital Four others are in ICUs at Taichung Veterans General Hospital the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital branches in Taoyuan and Kaohsiung One patient at Taichung's Lin Shin Hospital four at the city's Cheng Ching Hospital Chung Kang Branch and one at Taipei's Mackay Memorial Hospital are all being observed in general wards Two relatives of the 2-year-old Macau girl -- a 58-year-old woman and her 56-year-old husband -- died after being hit by falling debris from the explosion when they were walking past the department store on a family trip to Taiwan Another four of the 2-year-old girl's family were injured in the blast The child had to undergo an emergency craniotomy -- a surgical procedure in which a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull to access the brain - due to severe brain injuries the hospital indicated that she remained in the ICU as her condition was unchanged from Saturday and she was still in a coma The girl's 24-year-old uncle and her great-grandmother are two of the four still being treated in the general ward at Cheng Ching Hospital Chung Kang Branch alongside another victim who is 68 and suffered from thoracic vertebrae fracture four people were killed and 36 injured in the gas explosion Related NewsFeb. 15: Taichung mall offers families of blast victims NT$11 million each Feb. 14: Prosecutors investigate manslaughter in deadly Taichung explosion