.jpg)
Five injured, two missing in fire at Panasonic CCL plant in Taiwan
A fire at a Panasonic factory in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has injured five people, and two employees are still missing. The plant belongs to Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials Taiwan, which develops and manufactures high-speed PCB materials and semiconductor packaging materials.
The fire broke out at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday at the company’s five-storey factory on Guangfu Road in the Hsinchu Industrial Park in Hukou Township, Taiwan’s news agency CNA reports, citing the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau. According to Taiwan News, loud explosions were heard and thick black smoke could be seen from several kilometres away. The fire department initially sent 23 vehicles and 48 firefighters to the scene. According to county officials quoted by Reuters, the fire was put out shortly before noon.
The five injured were conscious when they were taken to hospital. Their injuries include burns, cuts, fractures and breathing difficulties. Rescue workers were still searching the building for two missing employees.
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation. Panasonic did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
