A deadly explosion at a chemical fiber plant in Hsinchu County early this morning has resulted in two fatalities and 19 injuries. The blast, believed to have been triggered by a gas leak, occurred at the Far Eastern New Century Corp plant in Sinpu Township around 3 a.m
An explosion early this morning at the Far Eastern New Century Corp chemical fiber plant in Hsinchu County has tragically claimed the lives of two employees and left 19 others injured. The blast occurred around 3 a.m. at the Cotton 6 North Plant in Sinpu Township. Emergency services quickly responded, with 29 fire trucks and 60 firefighters dispatched to the scene.
Authorities believe the explosion was triggered by a gas leak from a hot oil pipeline, though an official investigation is underway to confirm the cause. Despite the blaze being under control, firefighting efforts are still ongoing.
One of the victims, 35-year-old duty manager Tsai Pai-wei, was killed at the scene while investigating an internal fire alarm triggered by the blaze. Tsai, who had recently been promoted to engineer, had worked for the company for almost nine years. A second employee, 43-year-old engineer Chang Chun-yu, sustained critical injuries at the scene and later died in the hospital.
Far Eastern Group, the company that owns the plant, has pledged compensation for the families of the deceased and dispatched personnel to assist the injured. The company stated that all of its factories are equipped with fire detectors and automatic alarm systems, and the guardroom immediately notified plant personnel once the fire was detected.
However, this is not the first fire at this facility. The Hsinchu County Fire Bureau reports that five fires have occurred at the plant since 2019, raising concerns among local residents. Some have called the plant a "ticking time bomb," citing frequent explosions and unpleasant odors that have contributed to air pollution in the surrounding areas.
Labor rights advocate and Hsinchu County Councilor Luo Mei-wen, a former employee at the plant, suggested that the tragedy may have been caused by longstanding issues, including labor cuts, overworked staff, outdated equipment, and insufficient employee training.
The Hsinchu County Environmental Protection Bureau has conducted air quality testing in the area and issued warnings for nearby boroughs, advising residents to close windows and wear masks if they need to go outside.
Hsinchu County Commissioner Yang Wen-ke has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the community in a public statement.
Three U.S. senators are visiting Taiwan this week to discuss a range of issues, including trade, security, and regional concerns, as Taiwan continues its tariff talks with Washington.
Taiwan will be included in the first group of countries to hold talks with the United States regarding tariffs, President Lai Ching-te announced on Friday.
Western intelligence agencies have issued a rare joint advisory warning of an increasing threat from Chinese surveillance tools targeting activists, journalists, and minorities.
Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in Chinese military activity as Beijing concluded two days of war games around the island, intensifying tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The United States has condemned China’s recent military actions near Taiwan, labeling them as "irresponsible threats" that escalate regional tensions. The U.S. reaffirmed its unwavering support for Taiwan, stressing that China’s intimidation tactics undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman is scheduled to visit Moscow on Monday, just days after the commencement of a new round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Muscat.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday for talks that the Vatican described as "cordial," following ongoing criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter, set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order early Saturday blocking the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members from Texas under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment