A fire and a series of explosions at a golf factory in southern Taiwan killed 10 people and injured nearly 100 others on Friday, according to the Xinhua news agency. Among the dead were four firefighters who were trapped under the collapsed structure of the factory.
Xinhua reported that a fire erupted at a factory in Pingtung County, known for manufacturing golf clubs and balls, around 8:30 p.m. local time. The local fire authorities promptly responded by deploying over 20 fire trucks and 100 firefighters. However, extinguishing the inferno proved to be challenging as the factory contained flammable substances and chemicals.
The fire triggered several explosions that caused the roof and walls of the factory to collapse, trapping many firefighters and factory workers inside. Rescue efforts continued until early Saturday morning, when the fire was finally brought under control.
The cause of the fire and explosions is still under investigation. The Pingtung County government has set up an emergency response center to provide assistance to the victims and their families. The county magistrate, Pan Men-an, expressed his condolences to the deceased and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
