TAIWAN – Fire at Kaohsiung Lithium Battery Plant Injures 15

At least 15 people, including three firefighters, were injured when a fire broke out early Monday morning at a lithium-ion battery plant in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District.

The fire started around 5 a.m. at Molie Quantum Energy Corp.’s facility. According to the Kaohsiung Fire Bureau, 46 fire trucks and 91 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze. The plant’s automatic sprinkler system was triggered immediately, helping bring the fire under control.

Twelve employees sustained minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes, while three firefighters suffered light burns. All the injured were sent to hospital and have since been discharged and allowed to return home, according to the plant’s parent company, TCC Group Holdings Co. The fire is believed to have originated in a warehouse storing semi-finished battery products, though the exact cause is still under investigation.

While the fire was contained relatively quickly, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau issued an air quality warning after detecting elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) within a six-kilometer radius of the site. Although no toxic gases or dangerous chemicals were found, the bureau announced that the plant will face fines between NT$100,000 (US$3,420) and NT$5 million under the Air Pollution Control Act.

Residents living nearby have been urged to stay indoors, close doors and windows, and reduce outdoor activities due to the lingering pollution and foul smell.

In response to the incident, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) ordered an immediate shutdown of the Siaogang plant. He stressed that facilities handling chemical materials like lithium batteries must comply with the highest safety and fire prevention standards, and vowed that local authorities will hold those responsible accountable.

Photo credit: Kaohsiung Fire Bureau. All rights reserved.