killing 24 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Fire officials say it happened around midnight local time in Kaohsiung, adding that firefighters

responding to initial reports of a gas leak were among the fatalities.

Taiwan's premier said there were at least five powerful blasts... while the director

of its disaster agency said the gas was likely propane... which is not extinguishable by

water. The explosions shot through the city's sewage

system, spawning huge flames and creating giant holes resembling huge caves.

Residents told local media it felt like the area had been hit by a powerful earthquake.