"Two dead, 19 injured in fire at chemical fiber plant in Hsinchu"

A fire broke out at a chemical fiber factory in Hsinchu County in the early hours of Thursday, claiming the lives of two people and leaving 19 others injured, according to Far Eastern New Century Corp., which runs the plant.

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One factory worker was pronounced dead at the site after suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), it said.

Another employee, who also suffered OHCA, was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead there, according to the Hsinchu County Fire Bureau.

Five people were severely injured in the fire, while 14 others sustained minor injuries ...

According to the company, the fire was caused by a gas explosion that resulted from a leak in an insulation pipe.

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The fire on Thursday was the fifth one at the factory since 2019, according to residents in the area.

They told CNA that the plant constantly emits foul odors, causing air pollution, and is seen as a ticking time bomb, which is scary for residents in the area.

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