Chinese Relatives Demand Truth About Tourist Bus Inferno
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published July 22, 2016 | 02:04 PM
TAIPEI,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd july,2016) - Grieving relatives of 24 Chinese tourists who died in a bus inferno in Taiwan have demanded answers from authorities, after the worst road accident ever to hit mainland visitors. The first group of 46 relatives arrived in Taiwan Thursday to identify the bodies of their loved ones, and many broke down in tears as they visited a funeral parlour where the victims's bodies are being kept. Emotions were high at a briefing hosted by Taiwanese officials, with distraught relatives demanding to know the cause of the tragedy and questioning why no one was able to escape when fire ripped through the bus.
"The relatives demanded the truth and asked about the rescue process. Some of them wanted Chinese experts to take part in the investigation," said Tang Wen-chi, a Tourism Bureau official who attended the late night meeting Thursday.
"Why is there no truth after so many days? Why can't we find anyone to take responsibility?" Taiwan's United Daily news quoted unnamed relatives as saying. The report said some relatives questioned whether the low cost of the tour had increased safety risks, as drivers for such tours reportedly often work over-time, leading to fatigue.
The price for an eight-day around the island tour, tailor-made for Chinese tourist groups, typically costs less than Tw$20,000 ($625). The bus was just a few kilometres away from Taipei's Taoyuan airport, for passengers to catch a flight home Tuesday, when it was engulfed in flames and careered through an expressway barrier, killing all 26 on board, including a Taiwanese driver and guide.
Investigators are probing the cause of the accident and say the fire started at the front of the bus, near the driver's seat. Questions are still swirling over why no one was able to escape via the emergency exits. Chinese officials have demanded Taiwan take measures to ensure the safety of mainland visitors to the island, after a number of fatal accidents involving tourists from China in recent years.
"Relevant government agencies are taking measures to review and improve travel safety to ensure that similar accidents will not happen again," said tourism official Tang. Since the accident authorities have increased inspections of tourist buses and tour operators will be fined if safety doors are not working.
Liu Kezhi, secretary-general of China's Association for Tourism Exchange across the Taiwan Straits, expressed "strong dissatisfaction" over the accident Thursday. Chinese media has also warned of a decline in tourists to Taiwan.
"If Taiwan does not seriously reflect and improve, Chinese tourists would be playing with their lives if they go there again," Huanqiu.com said in an editorial. Tourism from China to Taiwan boomed for eight years under Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou who left office in May. But since new leader Tsai Ing-wen, a Beijing-sceptic, took over ties have become increasingly frosty. Taiwan's official data showed the number of Chinese tourists dropped 16 percent in May-July 2016 compared to the same period last year, with speculation Beijing is putting pressure on Tsai through squeezing tourism.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From World
-
Biden talks Gaza ceasefire efforts with king of Jordan
4 hours ago -
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
4 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked ex-presidents going to observe polls
4 hours ago -
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
4 hours ago -
Khan Yunis fighting displaces 180,000 Gazans in four days: UN
4 hours ago -
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
5 hours ago
-
Obama & his wife, Michelle, officially endorse US VP Kamala Harris for president
5 hours ago -
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
5 hours ago -
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
5 hours ago -
S.African police detain 95 Libyans at suspected military camp
5 hours ago -
'Slapping therapist' guilty over UK diabetic woman's death
6 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked flight of ex-presidents going to observe polls
6 hours ago