48 killed in Taiwan plane crash

At least 48 people were killed when a twin-engine turboprop plane crashed Wednesday while attempting to land in Taiwan's Penghu Islands, according to Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration.

Officials say 10 people were injured in the plane crash and that five residents on the ground were also hurt. Taiwan's Transportation Minister Yeh Kuang-shih told reporters there were no casualties on the ground.

Taiwanese authorities are now identifying victims and investigating the cause of the crash.

Two of the people killed were believed to be French passengers, identified as Jeromine Deramond and Penelope Luternauer, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. One of those on the passenger's list was an 82-year-old Taiwanese wood craftsman, according to local Taiwanese media.

Footage aired on CNN affiliate ETTV showed the plane had crashed in a residential area and broken into pieces. ETTV reported that the fallen plane destroyed or damaged 11 houses.

The central weather bureau reported lightning storms at the time and winds between 40 and 45 mph, the news agency said.

Injured passengers were taken to Penghu Hospital, and TransAsia Airways established an emergency response center, according to a statement issued by the airline.

The president of TransAsia Airways, Chooi Yee-choong, appeared briefly at a news conference and bowed in front of news cameras. He choked up as he expressed his sorrow to passengers' families and the public. "I sincerely apologize," he said.

Before Flight GE222 took off from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, it had been delayed because of conditions related to a typhoon, the airline said. The plane was a 72-seat twin-engine turboprop ATR 72.

"TransAsia Airways is exhausting all means to assist passengers, victims and families" and working with investigators, its statement read.

One of the plane's flight data recorders was recovered, and investigators will examine the crash site Thursday, the minister said.

The plane crashed near Magong Airport at about 7 p.m., according to CNA. Witnesses told ETTV that they saw homes on fire.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

Some media reports said strong winds from Typhoon Matmo, which hit Taiwan early Wednesday, forced the plane to attempt a crash landing.

Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration director, Jean Shen told reporters that visibility at Magong Airport at the time of the plane's attempted landing was about 1,600 meters (1 mile) and considered acceptable for landing.

The Penghu Islands are off the west coast of the main Taiwanese island.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/23/world/asia/taiwan-plane-crash/index.html?iref=allsearch

Structure of the lead:

Who- Not given

When- Wednesday   

What- A twin-engine turboprop plane crashed

Why- Not given

Where- Penghu Islands

How- Not given

Keywords:

Turboprop (n.) 渦輪螺旋槳飛機

Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (n.)台灣民航局

Casualty (n.)傷亡

Bureau (n.)局

Taiwan to halt construction of fourth nuclear power plant

President Ma Ying-jeou met with lawmakers from his Kuomintang Party (KMT) and reached a decision to seal off the plant's first reactor after the completion of safety checks, KMT spokesman Fan Chiang Tai-chi told reporters.

Construction of the second reactor will be halted immediately, the spokesman added.

The move is the latest sign of pressure on Ma's administration from opposition parties and anti-nuclear activists, who are concerned about the safety of such facilities in earthquake-prone regions of Taiwan following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Taipei over the weekend, urging the government to abandon nuclear energy.

On Friday, Ma refused opposition demands for an immediate referendum on the future of Taiwan's contentious fourth nuclear plant, but reiterated that the government would hold such a vote before the facility starts operations.

The news triggered a 2 percent drop in Taiwan's share market due to fears higher electricity prices could dent the economy.

The fourth plant is located in northern New Taipei City.

Taiwan's three current nuclear power facilities would have to serve longer if the fourth one does not start operating as planned, the economics ministry has said.

Taiwan's first nuclear plant is set to be decommissioned from 2018-19, while the second is set to close between 2021 and 2023.

Some 40 percent of the island's electricity is generated by burning coal, 30 percent using natural gas and 18.4 percent by nuclear power plants, according to the economics ministry.

Taiwan sits near the so-called ring of fire region of seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/27/taiwan-nuclear-idUSL3N0NJ08C20140427

Structure of the lead:

Who- President Ma Ying-jeou

When-Not given  

What- Seal off the plant's first reactor

Why- Not given

Where-Taiwan

How- Not given

Keywords:

Reactor (n.)反應爐

Halt (v.)停止

Administration (n.)管理

Referendum (n.)公投

Contentious (Adj.)爭議的

Reiterate (v.)重申