TAIPEI, Feb. 15 -- A sudden explosion and massive fire ripped through a busy restaurant in central Taiwan Wednesday, killing at least 67 people and injuring 18. The explosion took place on the first floor of the three-story Welcome Restaurant and Kareoke Bar in Taichung City, central Taiwan, at around 7:20 p.m. local time (2300 GMT).
The only exit was the main entrance on the first floor, and all windows on the upper floors were sealed shut, police said. Firefighters had the fire under control an hour and twenty minutes later, but said some of the bodies remained unidentifiable. Taiwan's government came under pressure to crackdown on bars and dancehalls with poor safety records after a fire at a Taipei Kareoke bar left more than 30 dead last fall. Taiwan's dancehalls, bars and bowling alleys, most of which are unlicensed, remain popular even after government warnings to stay away from unlicensed establishments with inadequate safety facilities.
