A fire and subsequent explosions at a golf ball factory in southern Taiwan have killed at least five people and injured more than 100 others, with five people still missing
September 23, 2023, 1:45 a.m. ET
• 2 min reading
BEIJING – A fire and subsequent explosions at a golf ball factory in southern Taiwan killed at least five people and injured more than 100 others, with five people still missing.
The fire started at the factory in Pingtung County on Friday evening and raged overnight. Authorities said three firefighters were among the dead.
Rescuers were still searching for four factory workers and a firefighter who remained missing, officials said.
More than 100 people were taken to hospital injured.
According to Taiwanese news agency Focus Taiwan, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expressed condolences to the victims’ families in a speech in Taipei on Saturday and said she would travel to Pingtung to visit those affected by the disaster.
Tsai said the Pingtung district government has set up an emergency operations center to provide assistance to people affected by the fire.
Pingtung County Judge Chou Chun-mi said in a Facebook post that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
“In view of the grief of the family members, I could not say anything other than to bow deeply, apologize and express my deepest condolences,” she said in the post after visiting the funeral home and meeting with the victims’ families.
Authorities said natural gas may have contributed to the explosions, which occurred as firefighters tried to put out the fire.