Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/07
By: Huang Guo-fang, Wu Chia-hao, Wu Hsin-yun,
Emerson Lim and Elizabeth Hsu

Photo courtesy of a member of the public

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) A gas explosion occurred at a petrochemical plant in the Formosa Plastic Group (FPG) Mailiao No. 6 Naphtha Cracker complex in Yunlin County Sunday, causing a fire but no casualties, according to an FPG executive.

The accident occurred at an aromatics production factory run by Formosa Chemical and Fibre Corp., an FPG subsidiary, at about 2 p.m., with a large explosion followed by a dense plume of smoke rising into the sky, local firefighters said.

The fire was reported to Yunlin County Fire Fighting Department at 2:05 p.m. and fire trucks and ambulances from several brigades were dispatched to the scene.

When they arrived 20 minutes later, a fire was blazing, the firefighters said, adding that the initial explosion was heard by people living up to 6 kilometers away.
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