Tablet turns into a ball of fire within seconds at repair shop

Tablet turns into a ball of fire within seconds at repair shop

2026-04-28

We’ve all heard stories of power banks exploding, but did you know other personal electronics can be a hazard too? A repair technician in Hsinchu recently had a close call with a tablet that turned into a big ball of fire within seconds. A client had brought the tablet in with battery problems. The technician placed it on a table to get started on the repairs when it suddenly swelled and burst into flames without a warning. The incident was caught on camera and posted online. Let’s take a look.

The technician puts the tablet on the table to get started on repairs when…

The tablet suddenly swells and explodes, bursting into a big ball of flames. The panicked technician grabs it and throws it on the ground to put out the blaze. Fortunately, it all ended there. The technician posted the video on Threads as a reminder to take damaged electronics to a professional. He wrote: “Thankfully it exploded in my hands. Had it been in your house it could’ve started a fire.”

Mr. Chou
Store manager
The customer noticed the tablet’s battery was draining very fast. That day, it was very abnormal, it could barely hold charge. We inspected it and the battery was very low, at 40% or 50%. After it was placed on the table, it suddenly caught fire.

The tablet was made in 2016. It looked fine on the outside, but inside, it was charred black. Despite the damage, the store disassembled the motherboard, replaced the battery and the casing, and returned it to the customer. All for just NT$2,000.

Passerby
Commenting on video
It’s terrifying! You wouldn’t expect the fire to be so big.

Passerby
Commenting on video
All of my old tablets also had the batteries burst. I stop using them as soon as they do.

The repair shop warns that abnormal battery drain, bulging and foul odors are signs of battery problems that should be taken seriously, both for phones and tables.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#tablet #phone #battery #batteryrepair #tech

驚險! "放桌上不到2秒"平板突爆炸起火維修員險燒傷

2026-04-28

行動電源爆炸頻傳，現在連平板也出事，新竹一家3C產品維修業者，在threads上PO出驚險維修過程，有一名顧客的平板電腦，用了10年，因為蓄電有問題，拿來維修，沒想到才放在桌上、準備要維修時，不到2秒，突然膨脹炸開，瞬間竄出熊熊大火，還差點燒到維修人員，驚險過程全曝光。

才剛將平板放在桌上，準備維修，但....

整個膨脹炸開，竄出熊熊大火，火勢猛烈，嚇得維修員趕緊將平板丟到地上滅火，還好沒有釀災，專修3C產品的業者將這段驚險過程，PO到threads上，提醒說，拜託大家有問題就交給專業，好在是在我手上爆炸，在你家可能失火還不知道。

[[當事店家周店長]]
“他(客人)就是發現，他的平板就是耗電，那一天耗電非常異常，就是幾乎沒有辦法蓄電，那來找我們檢查，那我們大概就是看了一下，健康度已經很低了，大概就剩四、五十這樣子，放到桌面上之後，它就突然整台就燒起來”

就是這台2016年出產的平板，外殼看起來好好的，但裡面整個燒到焦黑，怵目驚心，但業者仍拆掉主機板維修，換新電池及新殼，再交還給客人，僅收2000元維修費。

[[民眾]]
“我覺得蠻可怕的，就是沒有想到，它火居然那麼大”

[[民眾]]
“我的曾經也都是，電池都有爆開過，所以我是只要一爆開，我馬上就停用”

維修業者則提醒，無論是手機還是平板，一旦發現蓄電異常掉電、螢幕有隆起或膨脹，甚至出現臭味，都是電池有問題的癥兆，要特別留意。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Improper disposal of toilet paper plastic bags subject to fine of up to NT$6,000

Plastic bags for toilet paper are thrown away all the time, but can they be recycled? Many people just throw them away in the regular trash, but the bag is actually recyclable! The New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department issued a reminder that this kind of packaging is made from PP plastic film, so as long as it’s clean, it’s actually a valuable recyclable. Improper disposal could result in a fine of up to NT$6,000.

Tsai Wan-chen
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After bringing home newly bought toilet paper and taking all the packages out of the bag, how do you throw away the plastic bag they came in?

Some people don’t think about it too much—they just throw it away in the regular trash. Others recycle it. But who’s right? The correct answer: Recycle it!

Environmental authorities in Taichung and New Taipei both posted an explainer on social media saying that the outer packaging for toilet paper is a clean plastic bag with high recycling value. But the individual plastic tissue packaging should be considered general trash unless it has a recycling symbol.

Member of public
I think people generally know, but when it comes to actually doing it, they aren’t that consistent.

In general, a plastic bag is recyclable if the light shines through it, it’s made of one material, and it’s clean.

Liu Hung-yi
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In New Taipei City, toilet paper bulk packaging falls into the “clean plastic bag” waste category. They can be thrown away with the recycling truck. But please separate them to make sure they’re not mixed with general trash or grease. Failure to follow regulations could result in a maximum fine of NT$6,000 under the Waste Disposal Act. However, individual toilet paper bags and single-pack tissue wrappers are not recyclable.

Although New Taipei isn’t strictly enforcing this rule at the moment, you could still be liable for a NT$6,000 fine if caught failing to properly sort your waste.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#wastedisposal #recycling #plasticbag #packaging #toiletpaper #fines #sanitation #wastemanagement #didyouknow #plastic

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Lee Shu-chuan picked as New Taipei mayoral candidate

The results are out for a poll commissioned by the KMT and TPP to decide on a candidate for New Taipei’s mayoral race. The winner of the poll was the KMT’s Lee Shu-chuan, who recently stepped down as Deputy Mayor of Taipei. On Tuesday he held a conference alongside TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang to make the announcement. Reporters asked Lee whether Huang would be in his campaign team. He said that since Huang is the TPP’s party chair he will have to assist with campaigning nationwide, adding that if he gets elected, he will appoint members of the TPP to the city government. Meanwhile, Huang said he would cooperate with whatever Lee decides to do. Let’s hear more.

Lee Shu-chuan
New Taipei mayoral candidate (KMT)
Huang Kuo-chang is the Chair of the TPP, so he’ll be helping campaigns nationwide. He can be like my best comrade-in-arms. If I win the election at the end of the year, I will work with talent from the TPP and make every effort to recruit them.

Huang Kuo-chang
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The best lead to this play is Lee Shu-chuan. We will follow his lead. As for me, my campaign headquarters will not just be the joint headquarters for six councilors, but also be a support base for Lee Shu-chuan.

Su Chiao-hui
New Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
Congratulations to my rivals for completing their primary. I will continue to strive for more opportunities to serve the citizens of New Taipei with my energetic, creative and capable team.

Two polls were conducted for the joint KMT-TPP primary to test each candidate’s performance in a two-way race against the DPP’s candidate Su Chiao-wei. In the first poll, Lee won over Su by 6 percentage points, and Huang lost to Su by 3 percentage points. In the second poll Lee’s lead over Su was even bigger, at 12 percentage points, while Huang was only slightly ahead of Su by 2 percentage points. Since Lee won both polls, and the ratings were higher, he was selected as the candidate.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#politics #kmt #tpp #dpp #李四川

2026-04-28

Hsinchu firefighters save 9-month-old baby from asphyxia

On Monday, the Hsinchu County Fire Department successfully helped rescue a 9-month-old baby with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Thanks to their first aid skills and high-grade medical devices in the fire department’s inventory, it only took 30 seconds to revive the little one at the hospital. Let’s take a closer look.

They turn the baby over and pat her on the back. After 30 seconds of resuscitation efforts, the baby finally lets out a small cry. She was found in critical condition at 1 p.m. Monday by her parent, who’d fed her only three minutes before. Her face had turned blue, requiring emergency care. Her frightened parent called 119 for help, and when paramedics arrived, she already had feeble vital signs. At the first minute, paramedics opened up her airway and gave her medical oxygen. About two minutes later, her spontaneous breathing resumed.

Lin Chen-yu
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Before arriving at the hospital, firefighters quickly used a high-grade airway device for infants and carried out first aid really well. When the little one arrived, her heartbeat was quickly restored.

The rescuers say that asphyxia is the most common condition in infants requiring emergency treatment. Apart from CPR, oxygen supply is even more crucial. The Hsinchu County Fire Department recently procured a set of high-grade supraglottic airway device in infant size, which proved effective in this case.

Hsu Chia-hsiung
Hsinchu County Fire Department
In yesterday’s case when giving emergency first aid to the patient, we inserted a high-grade airway device, which helps deliver oxygen to the lungs effectively.

Hsu Yu-cheng
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Usually in emergency first aid, we’d use a bag valve mask to give the patient oxygen. You can see in this diagram that without the other device, the air can easily enter the esophagus.

With the highest birth rate in Taiwan, Hsinchu needs to be prepared for the little ones. Thanks to the rescuers and a well-stocked inventory, the 9-month-old was successfully rescued.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#firstaid #ER #CPR #medicine #medicaldevice

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Companies eyeing high-tech pet products as cat ownership spikes

The pet economy continues to heat up. With over 1.74 million cats and 1.46 million dogs across Taiwan, owners are treating their pets as members of the family and spending accordingly. Appliance makers are eyeing this NT$60 billion annual market with a variety of smart gadgets for the astute pet lover.

Even an 11-kilogram Maine coon can fit comfortably in this spacious litter box. After they’re done with their business, the box can clean itself and even keep records through an app. And with built-in safety sensors, owners can be sure their beloved pet is safe and sound.

Chao Yu-po
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The box can easily sense when a cat gets close and will immediately stop, fully ensuring its safety.

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If I go traveling or something like that, I think it’s really convenient. I can tell it to clean itself through the phone app, so I won’t worry about the smell stinking up the house while I’m away.

Cat owners not only care about their pet’s comfort, but also cleanliness and hygiene. Manufacturers are also offering more advanced robotic vacuums that can clean in sections, reducing bacterial residue by 99%. Even your most basic feeding needs are going high-tech.

Food is dispensed automatically with a single tap. With 4 liters of capacity, you won’t need to refill it for 20 days. It can even be controlled remotely, so you can be sure your pet is fed on time, even if you’re not home. The automatic water dispenser next to it uses a four-stage filter to keep the water pristine.

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With AI integration, the future of appliances lies in smart technology. The entire industry is booming, even more than products for babies. So we’re very, very optimistic about the future potential of pet electronics.

Modern pet owners are becoming more discerning consumers. To make sure the little princes and princesses of their household are happy, no price is too high.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#pets #petproducts #businessopportunity #litterbox #cats #catowner #smartappliances #AI #pamperedpet #catlover

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Thailand could halve visa-free tourist stay from 60 to 30 days

In order to boost tourism, Thailand had expanded its 60-day tourist visa exemption scheme in 2024, while also included an additional 36 countries and territories, for a total of 93. However, in less than two years, the Thai government is considering rolling back the policy, while also cutting the maximum stay to 30 days. That’s because instead of boosting the local economy, the relaxed rules actually created problems such as illegal work and crime. Should the proposed policy take effect, Taiwan would still be included in the list of 57 countries, and still enjoy 30 days of visa-free tourism.

People have fun splashing water on others to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year. In 2024, as a measure to boost tourism, the Thai government expanded its 60-day tourist visa exemption scheme to 93 countries and territories. But in less than two years, Thailand is considering reverting to the previous list of 57 countries and territories, while also halving the maximum period of visa-free stay, from 60 to 30 days. It also plans to tighten visitor screenings.

Taiwanese tourist
Frequent traveler to Thailand
I wanted to volunteer, and they told me that there’s a volunteer visa, and that I should apply for it. Before, all I needed was a tourist visa and I could get in and stay for two months, and even extend my stay by another month. But the new policy is no big deal. Thirty days are more than enough if you want to tour Thailand.

Should the new, tightened rules take effect, overstaying as a tourist will be fineable by 500 baht per day, and could even get you blacklisted. As for the shortened list of visa-free countries, Taiwan would still be included. Travel agents also say that the shorter period of visa exemption would be of little impact to typical travelers.

Chen Chien-chin
Travel agency GM
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The Thai government had hoped to attract a greater number of quality tourists with higher spending power. However, statistics showed that the majority of tourists only spend 15 to 30 days in Thailand on average. Instead, many of those that maximize their stay on tourist visa exemption could get involved in illegal work and criminal activities, including scam, causing wide repercussions for Thai society.

Hong Ming-chien
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The Thai government hopes that the tightened rules will support quality and sustainable tourism.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Former weightlifter opens authentic German restaurant in Kaohsiung

You may have had the fortune of visiting this ultra-authentic German restaurant in Kaohsiung, almost like stepping into Europe. But what you might not have known is that the owner used to be a champion weightlifter. Born into an athletic family, he won the National Middle School Games back in the day. But after starting to work in restaurants during college, he never looked back. He developed an interest in German cooking and even went there to learn authentic techniques, diverging from his early athletic path.

A juicy and tender pork rib, seared until golden brown, goes into the oven to cook.

This is the traditional German way to make spare ribs—by searing and then slow baking.

- This is a specially made German sauce. It’s a versatile sauce they use for any kind of barbecue or grilled meat.

He smears on the sauce of red pepper, tomato, and garlic before grilling it until the outside starts to crisp. That’s how you know the pork chop is ready to go.

- The juices are fresh when you bite into it, and it has a satisfying chewiness.

- It’s a must-order, the German sausage. I love getting this.

Stepping into this restaurant in Kaohsiung feels like you’ve been transported to Germany. But what you might not know is that the owner, 38-year-old Cheng Kai-feng, used to be a champion weightlifter. Born to an athletic family, both his father and uncle are cyclists. He trained in weightlifting for nearly seven years, and in high school, won the 85kg division at the National Middle School Athletic Games. But he chose not to continue in college, and instead pursued his love of cooking.

Cheng Kai-feng
Restaurant owner
I started training after finishing sixth grade. After winning the national games, I started contemplating what to do next. What I loved most was German smoked ham. So I followed the recipe to the letter, got a wood-fired oven, and started researching how to make it.

He started working in restaurants in college, where he encountered different cuisines and developed a passion for cooking. A German couple happened to try the ham he made and were so impressed that they generously invited him to exchange expertise with a butcher in Bingen, Germany.

Cheng Kai-feng
Restaurant owner
A German couple came to Taiwan for a technical exchange in solar energy. The wife was surprised and said she’d never even had anything like it in Germany. How come Taiwan has it? So she arranged with a butcher for me to bring it to Germany.

This is the ham that won the German couple over, smoked to perfection with a delicate pink center. He studied in Germany for a full year, learning authentic techniques to bring back to Taiwan.

Cheng Kai-feng
Restaurant owner
The process of training for weightlifting was a great opportunity to hone my resilience.

Cheng Yung-chien
Cheng Kai-feng’s father
I support changing careers, because everyone should explore different things rather than sticking to one path.

Whether a champion weightlifter or an accomplished chef, Cheng has found his own flavor of success.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Germancuisine #restaurant #chef #weightlifting #athlete #Kaohsiung #sparerib #MiddleSchoolGames

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