Cigarettes or spark suspected in Taiwan fire

A person helps an injured victim from an accidental explosion during a music concert at a water park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, June 27, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Taiwan police recommended charges of professional neglect and public endangerment on Sunday for party organizer Lu Chung-chi, who was arrested but released on bail of 1 million Taiwan dollars (US$32,000) bail and restricted from leaving the island, a New Taipei City police spokesman said.

Local media photos showed Lu kneeling on the ground to apologize, pledging to take full responsibility.

Police also recommended charges for the stage hardware technician and the person responsible for shooting off the powder. Each was given bail of 300,000 Taiwan dollars. Officers questioned another two involved in the event but did not recommend charges, said Yan Bo-jen, news liaison with the Luzhou Precinct of New Taipei City Police Department.

Prosecutors have also seized the assets of the water park and of the party organizers, the city news official said.

The powder at the party Saturday had ignited along the ground, mainly burning people's lower bodies, said Wang Wei-sheng, a liaison with the New Taipei City fire department command center. On Sunday, the Taiwan authority said it was taking an inventory of medical supplies to ensure that the injured could get timely treatment.

Four victims were from Hong Kong, two from Chinese mainland and one each from Macau, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. More than 200 were students, Central News Agency said.

A total of 519 people were injured by the fire, according to a statement from the city government's health bureau. Some 184 were in intensive care.

Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou visited burns victims at a hospital in Taipei on Sunday afternoon and said authorities would do their best to ensure victims receive "the best medical care" and find out who was responsible for the "tragic incident".