Taiwan factory fire leaves at least 5 dead, more than 100 injured

BEIJING — A fireplace and subsequent explosions at a golf ball manufacturing unit in southern Taiwan killed no less than 5 folks and injured greater than 100 others, and 5 persons are nonetheless lacking.

The hearth started on Friday night time on the manufacturing unit in Pingtung county and raged in a single day. Three firefighters have been among the many lifeless, authorities mentioned.

Rescuers have been nonetheless searching for 4 manufacturing unit employees and one firefighter who remained unaccounted for, officers mentioned.

Greater than 100 folks have been taken to the hospital with accidents.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a speech in Taipei on Saturday expressed her condolences to the households of the victims and mentioned she would journey to Pingtung to go to these affected by the catastrophe, in line with Taiwanese information outlet Focus Taiwan.

Tsai mentioned the Pingtung county authorities had arrange an emergency operation heart to supply help to these impacted by the fireplace.

Chou Chun-mi, Justice of the Peace of Pingtung county, mentioned in a Fb put up that the reason for the fireplace was nonetheless beneath investigation.

“Going through the grief of the members of the family, I couldn’t say something besides to bow deeply, apologize, and categorical my deepest condolences,” she mentioned within the put up, after visiting the funeral house and assembly with victims’ households.

Authorities mentioned that pure gasoline could have contributed to the explosions, which occurred as firefighters have been making an attempt to place out the fireplace.