http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28594693
BBC News Asia 31 July 2014 Last updated at 22:41
台灣高雄氣爆案 至少20人罹難
Taiwan gas blasts in Kaohsiung kill at least 20
官方表示，台灣南部的高雄市連環氣爆已經造成20人罹難，另270人負傷。
A series of gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung has
killed 20 people and injured about 270, officials say.
氣體洩漏的確切原因尚不清楚，但相關報導稱，爆炸是由於管線破裂所致。
The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the blasts
were caused by ruptured pipelines.
現場拍下的圖片中有大火、翻倒的車輛和嚴重受損的市街、樓房。
Images from the scene show major fires, cars overturned and significant
damage to roads and buildings.
台灣消防隊表示，氣爆案中的眾多傷者都送醫治療。
Dozens of those injured by the blasts were taken to hospitals for treatment,
Taiwan's fire agency said.
消防署亦在聲明中補充，說當地消防局在週四晚間接獲了漏氣的消息，然後半夜就發生了連
環氣爆，影響範圍約2至3平方公里。
"The local fire department received calls of gas leaks late Thursday and then
there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting an area of two to
three sq km [one sq mile]," the National Fire Agency added in a statement.
死者名單中據稱有五名消防員。
Five firefighters are said to be among the dead.
高雄市府表示，鄰近居民已疏散到學校內。
People in the nearby area have been evacuated to schools, local officials say.
當地媒體報導說，儘管消防隊致力搶救，但在爆炸五小時後的清晨5點，兩條街內的火
勢仍處於失控狀態。
Despite firefighting efforts, fires were still out of control in two streets
at 05:00 local time (21:00 GMT), five hours after the blasts, local media
reported.
根據台灣中央社發布的新聞，行政院長江宜樺表示高雄前鎮的氣爆案，是下水道內的氣體
外洩所引發的。
The multiple explosions were sparked by gas leaks in the sewage system of
Kaohsiung's Cianjhen District, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said, according to
Taiwanese news agency CNA.
江宜樺還說，高雄周邊的台南市和屏東縣也出動了數百名軍人和消防員支援救災。
Hundreds of soldiers, and firefighters from neighbouring Tainan City and
Pingtung County, had been deployed to assist rescue efforts, Mr Jiang added.
當地新聞指出，高雄前鎮及苓雅兩區已經停班停課，並要求居民待在家。
People have been ordered to stay home from school and work in Kaohsiung's
Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media reported.
高雄市長陳菊在臉書粉絲團發文表示「救災行動仍在持續中」，並要求大家「聽從現場救
災人員相關避災指揮，不要圍觀」
Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu wrote on her Facebook page (in Chinese): "Rescue
efforts are still underway," and she urged everyone to "follow the
instructions of rescue teams at the scene, and avoid standing around and
watching".
她還另外指出「市府已請中油及欣高瓦斯切斷供氣」，並要求市民不要驚慌。
"The local government has already requested [gas suppliers] CPC and Hsin Kao
Gas cut off the gas supply," she added, urging residents to stay calm.
市府已成立災害應變中心。
The local government has set up an emergency response centre.
中國新華社報導稱爆炸發生之前，已有瀰漫著瓦斯味的煙霧從地下水溝冒出來。
Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that before the explosion, smoke with a
"gas-like smell" came out of drains.