Toll in Taiwan gas leak rises to 27

The toll in Taiwan's underground gas explosions has risen to 27, the island's emergency operation authority said Saturday.

The blasts, that hit Kaohsiung city at about midnight Thursday, left another 284 injured, 56 of them critically, Xinhua reported.

With rain starting early morning Saturday, it added to the difficulty of the rescuers.

Kaohsiung government has resettled more than 900 residents, while electricity supply to 12,000 households and gas supply to about 23,000 houses has been cut.

The island's fire-fighting authority said gas leaks were reported in the city's Cianjhen district Thursday, leading to multiple explosions that affected an area as large as three sq.km., overturning cars and ripping up roads.