has killed 20 people and injured about 270, officials say.
The exact cause of the gas leaks is not clear, but reports say the
blasts were caused by ruptured pipelines.
Images from the scene show major fires, cars overturned and
significant damage to roads and buildings.
Dozens of those injured by the blasts were taken to hospitals for
treatment, Taiwan's fire agency said.
"The local fire department received calls of gas leaks late Thursday
and then there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting an
area of two to three sq km [one sq mile]," the National Fire Agency
added in a statement.
Five firefighters are said to be among the dead.
People in the nearby area have been evacuated to schools, local officials say.
Despite firefighting efforts, fires were still out of control in two
streets at 05:00 local time (21:00 GMT), five hours after the blasts,
local mediareported.
The multiple explosions were sparked by gas leaks in the sewage system
of Kaohsiung's Cianjhen District, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said,
according to Taiwanese news agency CNA.
Hundreds of soldiers, and firefighters from neighbouring Tainan City
and Pingtung County, had been deployed to assist rescue efforts, Mr
Jiang added.
People have been ordered to stay home from school and work in
Kaohsiung's Cianjhen and Lingya districts on Friday, local media
reported.
Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu wrote on her Facebook page (in Chinese):
"Rescue efforts are still underway," and she urged everyone to "follow
the instructions of rescue teams at the scene, and avoid standing
around and watching".
"The local government has already requested [gas suppliers] CPC and
Hsin Kao Gas cut off the gas supply," she added, urging residents to
stay calm.
The local government has set up an emergency response centre.
Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that before the explosion, smoke
with a "gas-like smell" came out of drains.
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