Tainan Factory Tragedy: One Dead, Multiple Hospitalized After Chlorine Gas Leak

Workplace Accident Highlights Safety Concerns in Taiwan's Industrial Sector

Tainan, Taiwan – A tragic incident at an electroplating factory in Tainan resulted in one fatality and the hospitalization of ten workers on Monday. The accident, which occurred on the afternoon of March 24th, involved the inhalation of chlorine gas.

Emergency services were dispatched to the factory in Anding District following a report received by the Tainan City Fire Bureau around 2:15 p.m. Upon arrival, responders found eleven individuals suffering from inhalation injuries. Many of the affected workers reported symptoms such as chest pain and eye irritation, prompting their immediate transfer to local hospitals.

Tragically, a man identified as Lin (林), who had lost consciousness after the chlorine gas release, was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. The remaining ten individuals were treated, with four of those with more serious injuries kept under observation in the emergency ward of Chi Mei Medical Center, all of whom were conscious as of 6:45 p.m.

The fire bureau reported that the other six workers were treated primarily for inhalation burns and choking. The details of their discharge status remained unclear later that evening.

Initial investigations by police and fire services suggest that the incident was caused by a misstep by an employee of a chemical supplier. The employee is suspected of having mistakenly poured bleach into a vat containing polyaluminum chloride, leading to the generation of chlorine gas.

This preliminary finding was confirmed by the Southern Occupational Safety and Health Center, which shared its findings with local authorities. Wang Hsin-chi (王鑫基), chief of the Tainan City Labor Affairs Bureau, released a statement regarding the incident.

In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, operating under the Ministry of Labor, has ordered the factory to halt operations. The authorities have also notified prosecutors about the employer’s possible violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and related safety regulations, as stated by Wang.