Taipei: Leaking kerosene from high-pressure pipelines is a suspected cause of the chemical fiber factory fire in Hsinchu County, which resulted in two fatalities and 19 injuries, the county's fire bureau said.
According to Focus Taiwan, Hsinchu County's Fire Bureau chief Chen Chung-chen stated that the kerosene might have exploded upon contact with a heat source. The fire engulfed an area of 1,000 square meters and caused an estimated NT$15 million (US$456,421) in damages. Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The bureau reported that the fire at the Far Eastern New Century Corp. factory was reported around 3 a.m., leading to the dispatch of 82 firefighters and 12 volunteer firefighters to the scene. Chen mentioned that the fire was largely contained by 7:37 a.m. and was completely extinguished by 12:03 p.m.
Information from the bureau indicated that the factory housed dangerous equipment, including a boiler and hot kerosene on the first floor, along with various flammable chemicals on the upper floors. The factory's safety measures were reportedly in compliance with regulations during an inspection on April 26, 2024.
Meanwhile, the local government's labor safety agency has suspended operations at the factory to prevent further damage. The agency, working in conjunction with the fire bureau, will determine if any further penalties are necessary based on the investigation results.
Regarding the fire victims, including two deceased Taiwanese nationals, seven injured Taiwanese, and twelve injured foreign nationals, the agency confirmed all are covered by labor and occupational accident insurance. The agency will urge insurers to expedite compensation processing and has requested local government support services.
Additionally, the Workforce Development Agency under the Ministry of Labor has been asked to assist with offering condolences to foreign workers, as stated in their announcement.
Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke has convened a meeting with local departments, including the Fire Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau, to address the incident. He assured that the government would continue to monitor air quality, assist victims in securing their rights, and strengthen inspections of factory equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
