A deadly fire yesterday at an under-construction processing center in Taichung belonging to the PX Mart supermarket chain was caused by welding sparks, authorities said today.
Initial investigations into the blaze, which claimed nine lives and left eight others injured, revealed that sparks from welding on the third floor fell onto paint stored in the basement, according to the Taichung City Fire Bureau.
The fire was further intensified by highly combustible insulation materials inside the building, which produced thick smoke and left victims with no way to escape, Taichung City Fire Bureau head Sun Fu-yu (孫福佑) told reporters.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung fire bureau
Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Ministry of Labor said that fire safety management at the site was inadequate, as the welding work was not conducted away from flammable materials or shielded by fire blankets as required by regulations.
Without proper protective measures, the building was subject to a "chimney effect" during the fire, making escape even more difficult, explained OSHA deputy head Wan Jung-fu (萬榮富).
The "chimney effect" refers to the upward movement of hot air and smoke in a tall, enclosed space, creating a vacuum that draws in more smoke and heat, worsening conditions for those inside.
Violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act's facility regulations could result in fines of up to NT$300,000 (US$9,174) per violation, Wan said.
The fire took place when the company was installing freezers at the processing center, which is near an existing processing center used to prepare fresh fish and meat supplied to its stores in central and southern Taiwan, a PX Mart executive surnamed Wu (吳) said earlier.
PX Mart, the largest supermarket chain in Taiwan, currently has over 1,200 branches around Taiwan, according to the figure mentioned in a sales campaign in early December.
According to local hospitals, five of the eight injured remained hospitalized as of today. They are in a relatively stable condition and being monitored for any signs of aspiration pneumonia.
Of the nine fatalities, seven were Taiwanese nationals, while two were migrant workers, including one undocumented Vietnamese worker, said Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕).
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
RSS