Hsinchu:Five individuals were injured and two remain missing following a fire at a Panasonic Holdings Corp. production site in Hsinchu County on Wednesday. The incident was reported by the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau.
According to Focus Taiwan, the fire began at 2 a.m. at Panasonic's five-story factory located on Guangfu Road in Hukou Township. The building is noted to have a steel frame and sheet-metal walls.
The injured include three Taiwanese and two Vietnamese men, all of whom were conscious when taken to the hospital. Among those injured, a 49-year-old man surnamed Hu experienced right chest pain and burns on his left forearm. A Vietnamese man, aged 35 and surnamed Nguyen, suffered facial burns, a head laceration, and a fractured right foot. Another 35-year-old man surnamed Hsieh and a 30-year-old Vietnamese man, also surnamed Nguyen, had breathing difficulties and chest pain. Additionally, a 29-year-old man surnamed Lee sustained facial abrasions.
The fire bureau continues its search for two missing Taiwanese employees believed to be inside the building. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have yet to be determined. The affected company, Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials Taiwan Co., is involved in research and development, as well as the manufacture of printed circuit boards and semiconductor packaging materials.
