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A Statement Regarding the MOHW’s Handling of Gas Explosions in Kaohsiung (by the Office of Public Relations of the MOHW on Sunday, August 3, at 7 p.m.)

  • Data Source:Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2014-08-03
  • Last Updated:2017-01-11

1. In order to provide proper medical care for residents and injured staff in the affected area, in addition to protecting their medical rights, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) once again asked medical institutions to accept medical treatment requests from those who cannot retrieve or present their NHI IC Cards for the time being due to damage, in accordance with standards of providing medical services under exceptional circumstances. 

2. The MOHW requested the Kaohsiung Branch of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to continue vigorously assessing the needs of participating hospitals for medical supplies and manpower and to immediately dispatch additional medical personnel when necessary in order to prevent insufficient or excessive workloads for hospital personnel. 

3. The sheltering and placement of residents in the affected area: As of August 3 at 5 p.m., a shelter was set up at Chung-Cheng Industrial High School in Qianzhen District, taking in 266 people. According to statistics from the Kaohsiung City Government, 73 people are staying at hotels (non-shelters). There is a sufficient stock of donated goods, such as water, dried foods, sleeping bags and pads, and personal items; therefore, the central government does not need to coordinate with other cities and counties to provide these supplies for now. Victims’ needs and conveniences should be taken into consideration when removing the shelter or drawing up other placement plans as instructed by the working group. 

4. Disaster-related mental health service programs: The MOHW launched a Relief Hotline (0800-788-995) to offer 24-hour free consulting services to victims and rescue personnel. The responsible hospitals and main branches of the Psychiatric Service Network of Kaohsiung and Pingtung have been constantly providing care and mental support for victims as well. From August 1 to August 3, the Department of Health and Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, which is one of the primary branches in the Psychiatric Service Network, dispatched 58 care providers and provided mental care for 722 victims. 

5. As of August 3 at 7 p.m., the gas explosions were known to have injured a total of 302 people (178 discharged from hospitals, 64 in general wards, 57 in intensive care units, and three in emergency department observation rooms ).