edit: 2025/9/7
The 2015 New Taipei water park fire (Formosa Fun Coast Park) was probably the most tragic incident in recent Taiwanese history, because many university students died or were horribly injured. The site is still partially preserved. They still call it the Hellfire of Bali to this day.
This place used to be a very popular excursion spot in Bali, northern Taiwan. I visited it several times with my nieces. I was working at Fu Jen University at the time — many of its students were among the injured. Today, it’s a lost place — and it also triggers memories of a serious accident I once had.
(The main entrance today.)
I lay on the operating table, filled with painkillers. The sensation wasn’t exactly pleasant when the medicine was injected into the inflamed red flesh next to the rotting black wound. There was a risk of amputation involved. Cutting into flesh isn’t fun—you can feel the knife going through, but not really pain in the strict sense. Still, I wouldn’t want to go through it again. After a while, the pain comes back, and they inject more, but it has no noticeable effect. The medical limit has been reached, yet the dead tissue must be removed. They ask me to hang in there. No real choice, but the machines start to sound alarms—my pulse and blood pressure rising to unacceptable levels. It was only part of my leg after a traffic accident, but somehow I can somewhat understand what the victims of stupidity and greed in the Formosa Fun Coast disaster went through. Every morning I woke up after a restless night fearing the upcoming dressing change—just in one part of my body, not many parts like the victims. Some flesh always sticks to the bandage when it’s removed. Changing the bandage feels like opening an old Velcro fastener — only the bottom part is raw flesh. I’m sure every patient tried to beg or trick the nurses for higher doses of painkillers. The nurses are prepared for that, but they can’t give any more.
(The main entrance today.)
As so often, the disaster was at least partially caused by state incompetence. A large part of the park was built illegally on government land. It’s unthinkable that no one knew. Just before the accident, there had been a training exercise conducted by the fire department, during which the staff’s lack of competence was already apparent. Yet the operation continued without interruption.
As a result, 15 young people died from burns covering over 90% of their bodies. 500 were injured. Many others have been left scarred for life by burns and amputations. Below lie fallen figures — a symbol, perhaps, of the typical ignorance shown by the state and companies?
(definitely not a fallen angel)
From a happy day to a terrible end: This video shows at the end how the young people did their fight alone until the ambulances came and all ended in total chaos.
On 27 June 2015, a fire killed 15 visitors and injured hundreds. Staff at an outdoor “color powder party” had sprayed clouds of corn starch into the crowd, which then ignited. The fire lasted just 40 seconds, but it created an image of hell for the trapped young people. Typical of those years, Taiwan was still dominated by a “It’ll be fine” mentality that led to many such disasters. There had already been warnings about the powder, and the manufacturer had printed explicit safety notices. But neither the event organizer — already known for its poor reputation — nor the park, nor any government authorities paid attention.
(A side entrance left open, completely overgrown)
Some of the side buildings are still accessible.
When someone is injured in a traffic accident or becomes seriously ill, the burden on the family is immense. Nurses are medical professionals, not caregivers. Bringing food, washing, and looking after the patient — all of that falls to family members. That was also the case for me. My wife came early, at 5:00 a.m., before taking the children to school; and again in the evening at 7:00 p.m. Each time involved travel, transportation costs, and lost personal time. Can you recover that money through legal action? When a breadwinner is out of work and there are high payments on top, it can ruin a family. One father of a heavily injured kid could no longer bear the strain and took his own life.
A Survivor
Huang Bo-Wei: He had suffered burns over more than 90% of his body and had almost no chance of survival — yet he did not give up. In the end, he lost three limbs, but he stood up again. Today, he works and climbs Taiwan’s mountains.
It wouldn’t be right for me to go back in there.
(Better than words alone.)
I had intended to hold back, but my curiosity got the better of me—a textbook example of a failed attempt. The river wall was long and enormous, with entrances that led absolutely nowhere. I got lost and then stumbled straight into barbed wire. At first, I thought the wetness in my rubber boots was just sweat—but when blood started seeping out, it became clear. It was a sharp warning: as someone already prone to accidents, I definitely didn’t belong there.
(Copyright Claudius Petzold)
