HONG KONG (Reuters) – A large explosion hit Taiwan’s state-backed CPC Dalin Refinery in the southern city of Kaohsiung on Thursday night, videos and images from the Fire Deparment showed, with heavy fire seen above the plant but no injuries initially found, officials said.
Fire was seen raging above the plant and thick smoke billowed into the sky above for more than an hour according to an online video posted on Youtube. Residents from several kilometres away were able to view the explosion.
The fire broke out at 10.35 p.m. local time (1435 GMT) in Siaogang district. The city’s fire department said the fire was put out early on Friday and no one was injured or trapped after an initial investigation.
CPC spokesperson Ray Chang, said there was “very limited impact” on the company’s output, as it has several other such units in its facilities across the island.
“We are moving quickly to look into the cause of the incident and make improvements,” Chang said, adding that an initial probe pointed to gas leakage but further checks were needed.
Kaohsiung mayor Che Chi-Mai asked CPC to suspend its operations at the plant until an inspection was finished, adding that the Labour and Environmental authorities have given the company a fine of a total T$5.3 million ($165,098.75).
($1 = 32.1020 Taiwan dollars)
(Reporting by Farah Master, Meg Shen and Yimou Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
