Organizers of Taiwan Water Park Party Inferno Were Warned of Flammable Color Powder

Organizers of the party at the Taiwanese water park that turned into a fiery hellscape on Saturday night after three tons of color powder sprayed on a crowd ignited during a DJ set, burning 498 revelers, reportedly knew of the dangers before the incident.

Tai Won, the Taiwanese company that sold the starch-based powder, said that it had warned organizers of the party at Formosa Fun Coast park in New Taipei City that the product was flammable. Police and health officials have reportedly questioned Tai Won, which is not believed to be at fault for the fire.

"Whether it's corn starch or flour starch, this kind of stuff, no matter how long it's been around, if it's in dense quantities and if it's hot, it can catch fire," company representative Chou Hui-fang said.

The capital experienced searing temperatures over the weekend, which reached some 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius) before the fire broke out.

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Some 202 of those who were burned remain in serious condition in a local hospital, while a 20-year-old woman who had second-degree burns on 90 percent of her body is the first of the victims to have died, a hospital spokeswoman told the Associated Press. Her 12-year-old brother was also burned on 90 percent of his body and is being treated.

Investigators have recommended that charges of professional neglect and public endangerment be brought against party organizer Lu Chung-chi of the group Color Play Asia, as well as two technicians working the event. Lu apologized on Sunday after a night of questioning from authorities. He was transferred to the district prosecutor's office, where he was released on bail of $32, 121, and said that he accepted responsibility.

"No one wanted this to happen. I have watched the news, and it hurts to see so many people being harmed," he said, kneeling down publicly after his release. "I really do not know what I can do to make up for it."

He had earlier suggested that the powder was cornstarch colored with food dye, that its use at the party was supposed to be safe.

The powder may have ignited from a spark or cigarette, authorities said.

"It's still not clear what happened, but there were a number of people smoking and the weather was warm," said New Taipei City news department head Lin Chieh-yu.

Organizers of similar events in the United State, like the internationally heldColor Run, a 5-kilometer race in which runners are covered in colored powder made from cornstarch,say the powders they use are non-toxic, free of heavy metals, and made with dyes regulated by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

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In video of the incident, a remix of Jay Z and Kanye West's song "Niggas in Paris" can be heard fading out just before the cloud ignites, swallowing screaming patrons as they rush away from the stage. Photographs from the scene showed burn victims being carried out of the park on inflatable rafts.

New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu called it the "worst incident of mass injury [ever] in New Taipei." He ordered that the park be shut down until a full investigation was completed. Officials at the now-shuttered Formosa Fun Coast said that they would work "comprehensively" with the fire department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.