Sanlih News Broadcasting Graphic Burn Victims during Formosa Dust Explosion: Violating Humanitarian Standards and Aired Traumatic Footage Warned by NCC

On June 27, 2015, the Formosa Fun Coast water park in New Taipei City experienced a catastrophic dust explosion, leaving nearly 500 young people with severe burns and multiple casualties. During the critical rescue phase and the following days, Sanlih News, in pursuit of sensory stimulation and higher ratings, repeatedly broadcasted unedited and highly graphic footage of victims screaming in agony with peeling skin in the fire, failing to protect the victims'' dignity or blur their faces. This broadcast triggered immense outrage from victims'' families, medical experts, and the general public, who accused the station of exploiting human tragedy for commercial profit, causing severe secondary psychological trauma, and inflicting unnecessary panic on viewers. The National Communications Commission (NCC) subsequently issued a stern warning and administrative guidance to Sanlih, condemning its complete failure to uphold humanitarian standards and broadcasting ethics. The incident remains a notorious textbook example of media sensationalism and lack of empathy during public disasters.