Taipei: A government research institute has begun investigating whether the fire that broke out Monday on Taipei's Yangmingshan was caused by one of its solar-powered air quality sensors, officials said.
According to Focus Taiwan, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen expressed "deep regret" over the damage caused by the fire and affirmed the NSTC's cooperation with investigators to determine the cause. The NSTC has initiated an internal investigation and instructed all agencies under its jurisdiction to inspect their research equipment to prevent future incidents.
Wu's statement followed the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters' announcement that a state-run air quality sensor might have sparked the blaze. The fire erupted around 11:16 a.m. near the mountainous Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area, burning approximately 32 hectares before being extinguished at 4:32 p.m. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries were reported.
The National Institutes for Applied Research (NIAR), operating under the NSTC, confirmed that its National Center for High-Performance Computing managed a sensor in the area. This was part of a project monitoring gas eruptions and air quality around the Tatun Volcano Group. The solar-powered monitoring device, installed by a contractor in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, requires a formal fire investigation to determine the fire's cause.
Due to the fire damage, the hiking trail from the Xiaoyoukeng Trail Entrance to Qixing Mountain's main peak will remain closed pending safety inspections, as declared by the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters.