Taipei City Inspects 34 Escape Room Venues, Fining 21 Violators with 15 Penalties

(Central News Agency, Reporter Yang Shu-min, Taipei, 18th) Following the death of an employee at a Taipei escape room who suffocated while playing a hanging ghost, the city's Department of Cultural Affairs announced today that it inspected 34 locations from the 15th to the 17th. An additional 12 businesses were found to have fire safety issues and other problems, leading to 15 penalty notices totaling NT$1.04 million. Another 9 businesses that did not comply with land use zoning regulations have been referred to the Department of Urban Development for adjudication. A female employee at the Taipei escape room "Logic Squala" suffocated on the 10th while playing a hanging ghost and passed away on the 15th. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an recently stated that public safety inspections have been initiated for all such businesses in the city. The Department of Cultural Affairs explained that Escape Rooms are a new type of business where players solve puzzles in a confined space. Considering their operational characteristics, a joint inspection was conducted on 34 venues during the first weekend after the public safety incident, from the 15th to the 17th. The inspection, in collaboration with the Fire Department, Department of Urban Development, and Construction Management Office, assessed the location, building and fire equipment safety, and reviewed the labor conditions of employees, while also promoting the disclosure of consumer information. The Department of Cultural Affairs also created a table titled "Taipei City Government Joint Public Safety Inspection Violations" to disclose the inspection results. The department stated that besides the two locations of "Logic Squala" which have been ordered to suspend operations, three locations with no business activity, and one not classified as an escape room business, violations were found at 21 new locations. The department said that this includes 12 businesses found with issues such as incomplete closure of fire doors, faulty exit sign lights, lack of residential fire alarms and fire extinguishers, and unauthorized interior renovations. A total of 15 penalty notices were issued, with total fines amounting to NT$1.04 million, and operators were given between 2 to 30 days to make improvements. Secondly, the department said that another 9 businesses were referred to the Department of Urban Development for violating the Taipei City Self-Governing Ordinance for Land Use Zoning Control. The Department of Labor will also continue its investigation and will take action according to law if operators are found to be in violation of labor laws. Furthermore, the Department of Cultural Affairs said that during the inspections, all operators were required to promptly secure public liability insurance to protect the rights and interests of players and themselves. (Editor: Li Shu-hua)