A pre-dawn fire and explosion at a waste-filled vacant lot in Tainan burned 11 homes and damaged dozens more, and the city is now paying out cash relief to the families hit hardest.

• Waste piled on an empty lot in Tainan's Annan District caught fire and exploded early on August 22, spreading to 11 homes and damaging 57 others nearby.
• Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui visited the worst-hit households and handed each one NT$120,000 in emergency and relief money.
• Homes on two nearby lanes damaged by the blast get NT$10,000 per damaged floor; other damaged homes get NT$2,000 per floor.
• Social workers set up emergency housing, brought in food and supplies, and sent mobile shower trucks, with charities and the military helping clean up.

Outlook: Payouts continue as damage is assessed, and attention is likely to shift to why so much waste was sitting on an open lot next to homes.