An explosion at a chemical plant in Taoyuan County yesterday injured seven people and delayed arrivals at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport for more than three hours.
A report in the Chinese-language United Evening News said that a boiler at Ekay Technologies exploded at around 9:40am yesterday. Soon afterwards, storage tanks at the chemical plant also caught fire.
A nearby resident was quoted as saying that smoke was seen from storage tanks after a tremendous explosion was heard.
PHOTO: YAO CHIEH-HSIU, TAIPEI TIMES
The resident also said that several other explosions were heard afterwards.
A Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport spokesman surnamed Liu told the Taipei Times by telephone that "the airport's fire department observed black smoke coming out of the chemical plant and immediately contacted the local fire authorities."
Ekay Technologies, founded in 2000, manufactures high-purity chemical products for semiconductor and plasma screens, a company statement said.
PHOTO: CNA
Seven people -- all of them employees of the company -- were injured during the fire, Lee Feng-lung (
"Forty fire engines and over 100 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. The fire was brought under control at approximately 3pm," Lee said, adding that the fire had yet to be completely put out.
The fire also had a minor impact on landings at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
"Since the chemical plant is only 2km away from the head of a runway, aircraft were instructed to avoid that specific runway when they landed," Liu said.
"Fortunately, the impact was limited as it wasn't peak hour," Liu said.
The control measures were in effect from 10:30am to approximately 2pm, Liu said.
Meanwhile, the United Evening News reported that the Taoyuan Environmental Protection Bureau had taken measures to prevent the spread of toxic chemicals.
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