A chemical gas leak caused a fire to break out at Far Eastern New Century's chemical fiber plant in Hsinchu. Firefighters were dispatched to put out the fire and environmental protection personnel were sent to take samples.
At 5 p.m. on Sept. 23, Hsinchu County's Fire Bureau received a call about a chemical gas leak at Far Eastern New Century's Hsinpu Chemical Fiber Plant that filled the air with a pungent odor. The odor spread throughout the county. At 9 p.m., a fire broke out and firefighters were sent to the scene to put out the fire.
The fire was probably caused by the leakage of hot kerosene. We continue to lower the temperature and monitor it to prevent it from reigniting.
We immediately stopped work when the leak occurred. However, it takes some time to discharge and that can't happen so quickly. At present, we have not yet been able to determine how the fire occurred, causing it to ignite.
The county's Environmental Protection Bureau sent personnel to take samples and inform the plant that its northern section had to shut down. The company will be fined NT$100,000 to NT$5 million for violating Article 32 of the Air Pollution Control Act.
There was a problem with the shaft seal of a pump inside the coal water boiler. It wasn't sealed, so the hot kerosene inside leaked out. We have ordered the northern section to stop work.
Two incidents affecting public safety occurred at the plant in just several hours' time. Whether the two incidents are related is under investigation. Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke inspected the plant and said the county government will ask the company to make improvements.