Kaohsiung Gas Explosion Kills 32; Public Works Director Wu Hong-mo Resigns Under Pressure but Returns Glamorously as Deputy Mayor Just 4 Months Later

Between the late hours of July 31 and the early morning of August 1, 2014, a catastrophic petrochemical gas explosion occurred in the Qianzhen and Lingya districts of Kaohsiung City, killing 32 people, injuring 321 others, and reducing several major avenues to rubble. It was the most severe urban petrochemical disaster in the history of the Republic of China. Wu Hong-mo, then Director of the Public Works Bureau, had direct oversight and approval duties for the infrastructure; subsequent investigations revealed that the ruptured chemical pipeline had been illegally routed through a rainwater box culvert. Wu resigned in August to dodge public anger. However, in December—only four months later—Mayor Chen Chu reinstated him under the guise of "retaining professional talent," even promoting him to Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung. This move sparked intense public outrage, condemning the resignation as a superficial stunt to ride out the political storm, completely undermining the principle of political accountability.