2 Thai workers killed, 1 injured in Taiwan aluminium plant explosion

Two Thai workers lost their lives while another suffered a serious injury in an explosion at an aluminium plant in Taiwan, at the weekend.

Officials from Kaohsiung City Fire Department in Taiwan told local news agencies that the explosion occurred at Juei Fang Aluminium Plant at around 8.23am, Saturday, March 23. Eight workers were injured in the incident, with one of them succumbing to their injuries in hospital. Subsequently, another worker was discovered deceased at the scene.

The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, Cholnan Srikaew, later clarified that two Thai people were killed in the explosion including a 37 year old man from the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham and a 46 year old man from the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum.

According to Cholnan, a 31 year old Thai man from Bangkok, sustained serious injuries in the incident. He underwent surgery at a hospital in Taiwan and is currently in stable condition. Taiwanese authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.

ThaiRath reported that the explosion may have resulted from an error in a control system, which permitted moisture to make contact with the liquid aluminium in the hose, ultimately leading to the explosion.

The Kaohsiung City Labour Bureau suspended operations at the plant and fined the owner NT$300,000 (340,000 baht).

The city’s Environmental Protection Bureau reported that the Juei Fang Aluminium plant was previously fined about NT$60,000 ( 68,000 baht), for violating seven waste disposal laws during 23 investigations in 2022.

Cholnan explained that the Thai Labour Office in Kaohsiung City would take care of the compensation and benefits that Thai workers and their families would receive. Any Thai workers who needed medical assistance would be transferred back to Thailand for further treatment.

Cholnan added that the provincial public health offices in Chaiyaphum and Maha Sarakham would help ease the minds of the victims’ families and relatives.