More than 30 religious groups gathered for prayer in Kaohsiung on Tuesday in memory of those who were killed in July’s two disasters.
On July 23, a TransAsia Airways flight crashed on the outlying island of Penghu, leaving 48 dead. A week later, a series of gas explosions rocked the southern city of Kaohsiung, killing 30 people and injuring more than 300.
About 10,000 people attended the prayer held in Kaohsiung’s Dome of Light. President Ma Ying-jeou, Vice President Wu Den-yih, Premier Jiang Yi-huah and other government officials also attended.
Ma said he hopes the public will face the traumas bravely. He also said the government will do its best to help victims and their families return to their normal lives soon.
At a press conference on Monday, the president said the blasts should serve as a lesson for local governments. He asked prosecutors to conduct a speedy investigation into the cause of the propylene-fueled explosions.