A fire and explosion at a golf equipment factory in Pingtung, Taiwan killed four firefighters and injured more than 100 people.
The fire broke out at around 5 p.m. (4 p.m. Hanoi time) at the Mingyang International golf equipment factory in the Pingtung Science and Technology Park in southern Taiwan.
Video shows black smoke billowing out, apparently from a chemical leak. 34 fire trucks and ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
Fire at golf equipment factory in Pingtung, Taiwan, September 22. Video: CTWANT
As firefighters entered the two-story warehouse where the fire is believed to have started, a huge explosion rocked the building and caused it to collapse. Singtao quoted Pingtung County Fire Chief Xu Meixue as saying firefighters mistakenly used water to put out the fire. Some of the substances used to make golf balls reacted strongly with water, leading to the explosion.
Taiwanese newspaper UDN reported that four firefighters were killed and six were missing. Nearly 100 people were injured.
A witness said about 300-400 people were in the factory at the time of the explosion. Workers heard fire alarms, but the explosion happened too quickly.
The scene of the factory explosion in Taiwan on September 22. Photo: Taiwan News
At 9pm and 10pm on September 22, two more explosions occurred and the fire was even more serious than in the afternoon. Authorities have not been able to control the fire.
Pingtung authorities have activated emergency response procedures, alerted hospitals to be ready for a large influx of patients, and are investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
Binh Dong Catholic Hospital receives victims of the September 22 fire and explosion. Photo: Liberty Times
Duc Trung (According to Reuters, Dailyview, Taiwan News, UDN, Singtao )
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