Even as work crews repair the damage caused by multiple natural gas explosions in the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan was shaken yet again by another lethal blast, this time in New Taipei City in the island's north. 

The blast ripped through the third floor of a residential building in the densely-packed city at about midday. Likely caused by a natural gas leak, Friday's explosion is reported to have killed at least one person and injured up to 14 in the south-central Xindian District of the city. A 16-month-old boy was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital, while his two-and-a-half year-old sister and 62-year-old grandmother are listed in serious condition. 

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Debris was sent raining down into the street below. The deadly blast set off a fire that was brought under control four hours later. A total of 38 fire trucks and 97 firefighters were dispatched. 

Police evacuated the building and fenced off the block. They told reporters the cause of the blast was still being investigated. However, according to the island's Central News Agency, residents of the stricken building had complained about a gas smell Thursday night. They reported this to New Taipei Deputy Mayor Hou Yu-ih after he arrived at the scene.

"We are not ruling out any possible cause at the moment, but we have turned off the gas supply to the building," the New Taipei City fire department said.

The New Taipei explosion comes two weeks after a series of natural gas blasts killed over 30 people and injured 300 in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. It would prove to be the deadliest gas explosion in Taiwan's history. According to the city's preliminary investigation, those explosions were triggered by propene, a highly flammable petrochemical, that leaked from a faulty pipe at a local chemical company.

TagsTaiwan, Taiwan gas explosion