TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A fire broke out at Molicel's lithium battery factory in Kaohsiung's Siaogang District on Monday morning, injuring 12 workers and three firefighters, who were rushed to the hospital.
The fire sent smoke into the air near Kaohsiung International Airport, though flights were not affected, according to airport officials, per TVBS.
The Kaohsiung Fire Department dispatched 46 vehicles and 91 firefighters to the Changchun Street factory at 5 a.m. A fire robot was also deployed.
All 12 employees and three firefighters injured at the scene have been sent to the hospital for abrasions and minor burns. The Kaohsiung Police Department also dispatched personnel to assist with traffic control.
A detailed cause of the fire and property loss assessment is still being assessed.
The Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau warned the public that air quality will be affected, encouraging nearby residents to remain indoors and keep windows closed. The EPB detected a high level of total suspended particulate matter of 0.041 mg/m³, though no toxic gases or chemicals were detected.
It said that wind direction was from the northeast, and downwind air sensors revealed high PM2.5 values ranging from 16.5 to 67 μg/m³ within a six km radius. The EPB said that the fire violated Article 32 of the Air Pollution Control Act, and it will be fined between NT$100,000 and NT$5 million (US$3,420 to US$171,000).
Mobicel was established in 2021 as a subsidiary of Taiwan Cement Corporation. It is the first high-capacity lithium-ion battery producer in Kaohsiung's Siaogang, providing rechargeable batteries for international customers specializing in electric vehicles and aerospace.
