http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33300970

Much more:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/27/asia/taiwan-water-park-explosion/

Now more than 500 injured.

Premier has banned color powder events during pending investigation.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/28/asia/taiwan-water-park-explosion/

Distraught Mother: "All Her Skin Was Gone";

http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201506280025.aspx

So sad. So very, very sad.

Five Arrested, Detained For Questioning:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/taiwan/11703517/Explosion-injures-200-at-Taiwan-water-park-party.html

I'm wondering what exactly was in the powder that caused it to burn/explode like that.

Most likely nothing. Ever heard of a Grain Silo explosion? Gather up enough dust and it can explode.

 

I know it is Wikipedia but it was the first link I found.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

Yes grain silo explosions do happen and they are quite powerful.  The powder used in these color events is typically made with a corn starch base which can explode if you have the right powder/air mixture and an ignition source.  I thought I saw fireworks in the crowd during the video. 

 

A very bad situation overall and there were some nasty looking burns in the video, prayers for all involved.

One dead:

http://kanw.com/post/taiwan-water-park-fire-claims-first-victim

It is very tragic. From fun and good times to death and horror in an instant. Man, this freakin' life sometimes. Dang.

New Hampshire Man Among The Severely Burned:

http://m.fosters.com/article/20150630/NEWS/150639970

Separately, WTOP Newsradio in The Nation's Capital reports that several Color Runs have already been canceled in the aftermath of this tragedy.

This is pretty awful, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, even if none pass away. Most of the articles I read constantly used a quote from one of the luckier ones. Cant remember the quote perfectly but it is the one involving all the blood in the lazy river. 

There has already been a reported death...

There has already been a reported death...

Sorry, haven't kept track of it. Last time I read a news report for it was when it said there were no casualties but multiple in emergency care

Posted here last night at 8:27 PM EDT.

Rough year for amusement park industry. I am unfamiliar with color runs and such. What exactly is this powder used for?

It's just used to add fun to the race - guests are covered with colored powder or liquid at various stations along the race. According to Wikipedia, the official Color Run events use colored powder made from food-grade corn starch (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Runfor more info).

I'm wondering what exactly was in the powder that caused it to burn/explode like that.

I was wondering if it was like the celebration day in India where colored powders, and sometimes colored water, are thrown by young adults at each other most of the times as terms of flirtation.

Second Person Dies

Taiwan Bans Use Of Flammable Color Powder At All Public Activities:

http://m.startribune.com/world/311383621.html

Much more, including video:

http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/afav/201506300028.aspx

Note the known death toll is two, as posted above.

Now 4 dead.

420 still in hospital, 277 of which are in ICU, 224 still critical.

http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201507100012.aspx

Burns can be a very serious problem. I am amazed the death toll is not much higher.

The recovery time is very long with a small burn. Just imagine 50 % or more of your body in 3rd degree. I feel bad for those involved, no one should have to go through that.

Yikes- nearly 500 people injured? This would be by scale one of the worst amusement/theme/water park accidents I have ever heard of. I hope everyone still injured from this recovers, and my condolences go to the families of the 4 people who have died because of this so far.

 

I wonder how the heck this even happened in the first place. Was there something in that powder? Or did someone use fireworks or something? I agree with the Taiwan Government on banning it for now until we know what happened...

 

I have only ever had very minor burns (from cooking and stuff- I'm not 100% Klutz proof and with me the occasional accident happens) and even those sucked and it took my Mother months to fully recover after she burned her hand on the stove once. And it sounds like many people got far worse than even that here. Ouch. Again, I hope they all recover as fast as possible but even that should be a long time for many.

Now 4 dead.

420 still in hospital, 277 of which are in ICU, 224 still critical.

http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201507100012.aspx

 

At least by seeing the video I can understand what happened.

 

That's horrible. I feel bad for the guy (Shen) that was trying to help and made things worse.

WTOP Newsradio in the Nation's Capital reports the death toll is now seven, and that all victims are being given three months free treatment. The color powder has now apparently been permanently banned by the national government.

8 have now died:

http://m.focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201507200012.aspx

Father of recovering victim commits suicide:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/706382/father-of-taiwan-waterpark-fire-victim-commits-suicide-report

Now 9 dead. Hundreds still critical:

http://english.cntv.cn/2015/07/23/VIDE1437644161142314.shtml

Popular Color Runs Coming Under Fire:

http://www.winknews.com/2015/11/12/popular-color-runs-coming-under-fire/

Wow, that's an unfortunate choice of phrase for the headline.

I question just what they tested. Color Me Rad, the company that does the annual color run at KI in May, describes their color powder as "non-toxic, non-rash-inducing colored corn starch". I know there are various imported color powders available for sale online (such as on Amazon), and I've always wondered just what is in those (a prime reason I've never purchased some just for fun at home, as I've wanted to for a while). But I've been under the impression that the major U.S. color run organizers (Color Me Rad, The Color Run, etc.) make their own color powder with safety in mind.

 

So did they buy some random imported stuff online, or did they obtain a sample from one of the major domestic organizers?