Inside eerie abandoned water park where 15 people died in party gone wrong

It’s been a decade since the deadly incident saw 15 people die and hundreds more injured with severe burns as the theme park was ordered to shut immediately

Once a bustling hotspot for summer fun, the Formosa Fun Coast water park in Taiwan now lies eerily silent with its slides crumbling, pools drained and choked with weeds, and its gates locked tight to keep out curious explorers.

The once-popular attraction has stood abandoned for years, ever since a horrific explosion during a party in 2015 claimed 15 lives and left hundreds more with devastating burns.

On June 27, 2015, the park hosted a ‘colour powder party’, where staff sprayed vibrant clouds of coloured corn starch powder over crowds of dancing revellers. Air blowers and compressed gas canisters were used to keep the rainbow clouds suspended above the stage as the music blared.

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But at around 8.30pm, the celebrations turned to horror. A sudden explosion of flame ignited the powder particles hanging in the air, creating a massive fireball that engulfed the stage and spread rapidly along the ground where people were packed together.

Panic erupted as hundreds fled for their lives, many suffering severe burns as the corn starch combusted around them.

Though the fireball was extinguished quickly, the damage had already been done. 15 people lost their lives, and 498 others were injured in what remains one of Taiwan’s worst mass casualty events.

Temperatures had soared to over 36C that day – meaning many partygoers were lightly clad. As a result, dozens suffered burns to 80 to 90 percent of their skin. In the aftermath of the deadly inferno, two survivors died by suicide.

Investigators later found that around three tonnes of coloured powder had been used at the event.

Experts explained that when fine powders like corn starch are suspended in air, they can form an explosive mixture, ignited by a single spark. Firefighters suggested that hot stage lights may have provided the initial ignition.

In the months following the disaster, Formosa Fun Coast was permanently closed. Event organiser Lu Chung-chi was found guilty of negligence and sentenced for four years and ten months in April 2016.

The tragedy left a deep scar on Taiwan, with victims and their families still campaigning for better safety regulations at public events.

Now, a decade later, the once-vibrant water park has been left to rot. Overgrown foliage snakes up the sides of decaying slides, and peeling paint flakes from the walls of long-forgotten attractions.

YouTuber and urban explorer Josh recently visited the abandoned site, describing the atmosphere as “incredibly eerie”.

Josh discovered piles of discarded furniture, including a mound of old dining tables he dubbed a “table graveyard”, and ventured down some of the giant slides – though he admitted there were rides he “didn’t want to test his luck on”.

Security patrols are still in place to deter trespassers, but the sheer scale of the site makes it difficult to keep explorers out entirely.