Rescue workers tend to injured people following explosions at the water park last year.
(CNN)A
Taiwanese event organizer has been sentenced to four years and 10
months in prison for his role in throwing a party at a water park where a
fireball killed 15 people last year, a court said Tuesday.
The
party, organized by Lu Chung-chi's company, Color Play Asia, at the
Formosa Fun Coast water park outside Taipei on June 27, ended in tragedy
when colored powder sprayed over revelers ignited under the heat of a
spotlight, causing a series of deadly blasts.
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Concert spectators tend to injured victims after an accidental explosion.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
A man carries an injured victim.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
The park was hosting a Color Play Asia party when the unknown substance ignited over a stage.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Rescue workers tend to injured people at the amusement park.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Taiwanese
President Ma Ying-jeou shakes hands with a victim on Sunday, June 28.
The New Taipei City fire department says 200 people were injured in an
accidental explosion of colored theatrical powder near a performance
stage where about 1,000 people gathered for party on June 27.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Two men walk at the explosion site of the water park in the Pali district in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on June 28.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Emergency
rescue workers and concert spectators tend to injured victims at the
Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Saturday, June 27, after
flammable powder apparently exploded in mid-air, according to the East
Asian nation's official Central News Agency reported.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Concert spectators tend to injured victims after an accidental explosion.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
A man carries an injured victim.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
The park was hosting a Color Play Asia party when the unknown substance ignited over a stage.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Rescue workers tend to injured people at the amusement park.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Taiwanese
President Ma Ying-jeou shakes hands with a victim on Sunday, June 28.
The New Taipei City fire department says 200 people were injured in an
accidental explosion of colored theatrical powder near a performance
stage where about 1,000 people gathered for party on June 27.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Two men walk at the explosion site of the water park in the Pali district in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on June 28.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Emergency
rescue workers and concert spectators tend to injured victims at the
Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Saturday, June 27, after
flammable powder apparently exploded in mid-air, according to the East
Asian nation's official Central News Agency reported.
7 photos: Taiwan water park explosion
Concert spectators tend to injured victims after an accidental explosion.
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Fifteen
people died, 331 were seriously injured and 135 suffered less severe
injuries, according to a statement from the Shilin District Court. Most of the victims were in their teens and early 20s.
The
court said that Lu had failed to prevent the explosions, saying that as
the event organizer, he "knew there were potential risks of explosion
with the colored powder and that it may cause harm to participants at
the party."
Nearly 500 injured by fireball at Taiwan water park 02:56
"According
to the law, he had the responsibility to stop using the powder and to
ensure safety when providing his services, and he failed to carry out
that responsibility," the court statement said.
The
court said that Lu left the stage at 7 on the night of the explosions
but did not tell a friend to stop spraying the colored powder onto the
crowd. Packets of the powder were also handed out to partygoers.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Lu apologized publicly, getting down onto his knees in front of reporters.
"We shoulder ultimate responsibility," he said, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.
The
explosions left plastic surgeons working around the clock to treat the
injured, many of whom had also inhaled the flammable powder, leaving
them with internal damage.