Evidence preservation completed at Tainan fire and explosion site as heavy machinery speeds cleanup

Cleanup crews moved into the site of a metal-waste fire in Tainan’s Annan District after investigators confirmed that no further evidence preservation was needed.

The Environmental Protection Bureau deployed excavators, loaders, heavy trucks and cleaning personnel on the morning of Sept. 5. They removed the soil placed over the site to help prevent pollution from spreading, along with scattered material and other disorder left by the fire. The waste was transported to legally authorized treatment facilities.

Workers also used a drainage-cleaning vehicle to pressure-wash and clear roadside gutters and other drainage facilities. They swept and disinfected the roads and organized the surrounding area, extending the cleanup from the fire site to nearby streets.

The bureau said it had initially covered the site while prosecutors, police and a professional technical team collected samples and conducted forensic examinations. Once officials determined that the evidence no longer needed to be preserved, the bureau took over the environmental restoration work.

The cleanup was carried out under the principle of acting "as quickly as possible," the bureau said. After completing the main restoration work, officials will continue monitoring surrounding air quality and environmental conditions. The bureau also said it would legally seek reimbursement for the cleanup costs from people involved in the incident and the operators responsible for the waste source.