Ignition of corn starch caused a dust fire at a water park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, killing 15 people and injuring more than 400 others.
Corn starch
Cornflour, cornstarch, maize starch, or corn starch is the starch derived from corn (maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the kernel. Corn starch is a common food ingredient, often used to thicken sauces or soups, and to make corn syrup and other sugars. Corn starch is versatile, easily modified, and finds many uses in industry such as adhesives, in paper products, as an anti-sticking agent, and textile manufacturing. It has medical uses as well, such as to supply glucose for people with glycogen storage disease.
2015 New Taipei water park fire
On 27 June 2015, a dust fire occurred at Formosa Fun Coast, a water park in Bali, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Staff of an outdoor "color powder party" sprayed participants with clouds of corn starch, which ignited. The fire lasted 40 seconds and burned 508 people, killing 15 and leaving 199 in critical condition.
Formosa Fun Coast
Formosa Fun Coast was a theme park in Bali District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It closed in the aftermath of 2015 New Taipei water park fire.
New Taipei City
New Taipei City is a special municipality located in northern Taiwan. The city is home to an estimated population of 4,004,367 as of January 2023, making it the most populous city in Taiwan, and also the second largest special municipality by area, behind Kaohsiung. The top-level administrative divisions bordering New Taipei City are Keelung to the northeast, Yilan County to the southeast, and Taoyuan to the southwest, and it completely encloses the city of Taipei. Banqiao District is its municipal seat and biggest commercial area.