Supreme Court upholds state compensation for 2015 water park blast victims

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) The Supreme Court on Friday finalized an order that the Tourism Administration and the New Taipei City Government must pay NT$21 million (US$659,000) in state compensation to the families of seven people who died in a 2015 water park explosion.

The blast at the now-defunct Formosa Fun Coast water park in New Taipei's Bali District occurred on June 27, 2015, when colored cornstarch powder used for party effects exploded and burst into flames, killing 15 people and injuring nearly 500.

Friday's ruling upheld a Taiwan High Court retrial decision in February 2025 that overturned earlier verdicts and established a causal link between the dust explosion and negligence by the Tourism Administration and New Taipei City Government.

The two agencies were ordered to pay NT$3 million to each of the seven families, who continued to pursue their 2017 lawsuit despite initial defeats in lower courts.

Families of the 15 killed initiated legal action against the two agencies and the National Fire Agency in 2017. After losing the first trial in 2019, the number of plaintiffs fell to nine, and dwindled further to seven, following another defeat in the High Court in 2022.

In its 2025 retrial, the High Court held the Tourism Administration and New Taipei City Government liable for knowing the venue was operating without a permit, while failing to enforce penalties or corrective measures, allowing the facility to operate.

Meanwhile, the court found no evidence of dereliction of duty on the part of the National Fire Agency.

Rejecting the appeal by the Tourism Administration and New Taipei City Government, the Supreme Court said Friday that the victims' claims were justified because the two agencies had long neglected their duties, which was partly responsible for the blast.

In response, the Tourism Administration and New Taipei City government both said that they would comply with the ruling and proceed with the compensation.