An early-morning fire and explosion in Tainan's Annan District has left residents angry and searching for who allowed dangerous waste to pile up on a vacant lot.

• The blast is believed to have started in waste dumped on the site — industrial machine oil, aluminum scrap and magnesium material.
• The lot is privately owned but had been borrowed by the local borough chief, Cheng Shun, so residents could park there.
• Rumors spread that he had also agreed to let someone temporarily store the waste, which enraged people whose homes were damaged.
• Cheng denies it, calling the claim gossip and "nonsense," and says the lot was only ever meant for parking.

Outlook: Investigators are still working the fire scene, and responsibility for the waste — and any liability for the damage — will hinge on what they find.