A chemical explosion at a missile base in Pingtung County yesterday injured four people, including a 51-year-old man surnamed Chang (張) who was in critical condition after receiving burns to 95 percent of his body.
The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said in a statement that the incident occurred at 10am at its Jiupeng (九鵬) base in Manjhou Township (滿州).
The four people, who were disposing of missile propellant chemicals, were rushed to hospital and were being treated, the institute said.
Photo: CNA
Sun Wu (孫武), deputy head of Hengchun Tourism Hospital, said that Chang had been intubated as a precaution.
A 41-year-old man surnamed Hung (洪) was sent to Nan Men Hospital for treatment for second-degree burns, while the two other men were being treated at Hengchun Christian Hospital, officials said.
One of the two at Hengchun Christian Hospital, a man surnamed Chen (陳) sustained burns to 50 percent of his body, officials said.
The fourth man, surnamed Pan (潘), sustained minor burns to his ears, officials said.
Later in the day, all four were transferred to Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital’s Zuoying branch.
Hung Kung-cheng (洪恭誠), head of the Zuoying branch, said that the next few days would be critical for Chang.
Presidential Office spokesperson Lin Yu-chan (林聿禪) said the cause of the incident was not yet known, adding that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had asked for an investigation to be conducted as soon as possible.
The four men — who had between five and 10 years of experience with the work — were doing wiring at the time of the explosion, but the area was not connected to electricity, Chemical Systems Research Division director Yu Feng-er (余鳳兒) told reporters, adding that a team has been formed to investigate why the waste ignited before power was reconnected.
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