Taiwan gas pipeline explosions kill 25

A series of gas pipeline explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung killed 25 people and injured 267 Thursday night and Friday morning.

The explosions left deep trenches in city streets in some of the densest parts of the city where gas lines ran next to sewers, The Associated Press reported. The blasts sent cars and trucks flying, and killed at least four firefighters in Taiwan’s second largest city.

Local emergency management officials told AP the disaster was likely caused by leaking propene, a petrochemical with industrial and manufacturing uses. But officials did not know where or why the leaks happened.

The government agency that owns the gas lines told AP there were no indications of problems with the lines before the blasts.

Some fires continued into the middle of the day Friday, while the government tried to prevent any more explosions.