Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion Lawsuit: Tourism Administration and New Taipei City Government to Comply with Final Ruling

The Supreme Court of Taiwan today dismissed the final appeal in the compensation case filed by the families of victims of the 2015 Formosa Fun Coast dust explosion. The ruling mandates that the Tourism Administration and the New Taipei City Government pay a total of NT$21 million in damages. Both government entities stated they would proceed in accordance with the law upon receipt of the official verdict.

On June 27, 2015, a dust explosion occurred during a "Color Play Asia" event held at the Formosa Fun Coast water park, resulting in multiple casualties. The families of the victims subsequently filed for state compensation against the Tourism Administration, the New Taipei City Government, and the National Fire Agency. While initial lower court rulings were in favor of the government, the Taiwan High Court’s retrial determined that the Tourism Administration and the New Taipei City Government were negligent in their duties, directly contributing to the incident. Consequently, they were ordered to pay NT$3 million each to seven families as consolation money, while the National Fire Agency was exempted from liability.

In response, the New Taipei City Government and the Tourism Administration stated they would review the verdict and proceed with compensation procedures according to legal requirements. The Tourism Administration expressed deep regret over the incident and conveyed its condolences to the victims and their families. Furthermore, the agency emphasized that it has since strengthened safety regulations for amusement parks, including higher mandatory public liability insurance and stricter permit requirements for special events, to ensure public safety.