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At least 24 killed in underground Taiwan gas explosions

At least 24 people have been killed and 271 injured in a series of underground gas explosions in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

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Series of gas explosions in Taiwan kill 20 and injure 270

A series of underground gas explosions in Taiwan have killed 20 people and injured 270 more.

Five firefighters, who were investigating reports of a gas leak at the time, were among the dead, the National Fire Agency said

Wreckage of vehicles are seen amongst debris after an explosion in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. Credit: Reuters

Taiwan's premier Jiang Yi-huah said at least five blasts shook the streets of Kaohsiung, a south-western port city of 2.8 million.

The source of the leak had not yet been located but Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu said several petrochemical companies had pipelines built along the sewage system in Chian-Chen district, which has both factories and residential buildings.

"Our priority is to save people now. We ask citizens living along the pipelines to evacuate," Mr Chen told TVBS television.

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