Number of critically ill victims in Taiwan park blaze rises to 211

TAIPEI - Altogether 211 victims of Saturday's water park blaze in Taiwan are in a critical condition, an increase of 27 from a day earlier, the island's health authority said on Friday.

Among the nearly 500 people injured, two have died and 255 remain in intensive care units, according to the health authority.

The fire broke out as the park in the island's New Taipei city was staging a party that saw a large amount of colored powder ejected from a stage. The powder ignited before landing on the audience.

The New Taipei city government has received donations of over 570 million New Taiwan dollars (18.44 million US dollars) as of Friday morning.