15 injured in Kaohsiung lithium battery factory fire

A lithium battery factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, caught fire on Monday, injuring 15 people—14 men and 1 woman—including three firefighters who suffered burns.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the building, and the blaze is now largely under control, according to Taiwanese media. 

Kaohsiung’s fire bureau said it received the alarm at around 5 am and dispatched 46 rescue vehicles and 91 personnel to the scene. Firefighting robots have also been deployed.

The city’s mayor Chen Chi-mai has ordered the plant to cease operations. The fire at the factory near Kaohsiung’s airport has not affected flight operations, the airport said.

The cause of the fire and the extent of property damage are still under investigation. 

TCC Group, the parent company of Molie Quantum Energy, which owns the plant, said the fire started in a warehouse keeping unfinished battery products, according to media reports. 

STAFF REPORTER