The fire broke out at the Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials facility at 2 a.m. Wednesday, Focus Taiwan reported. More than 20 employees were working on the production lines at the time.
The blaze erupted at the facility on Guangfu Road in the Hsinchu Industrial Park. There were loud explosions as thick black smoke billowed from the five-story steel-framed factory, with the fire visible from several kilometers away.
The damaged facility “conducts research and development and manufactures printed circuit boards and semiconductor packaging materials,” according to the Focus Taiwan report.
The company passed a safety inspection in August.
Shelter-in-Place
Fire officials urged residents to close their doors and windows, avoid exposure to smoke, and remain alert to unusual odors. Moreover, it also asked the public to stay away from the scene, particularly the area surrounding Guangfu Road, to avoid obstructing emergency crews.
Initial reports pointed to flammable chemical solvents, including methanol and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), as a possible factor in the incident. The precise cause remains under investigation.
The factory is a Taiwanese production subsidiary of Japan’s Panasonic Group, specializing in the development and manufacture of high-speed printed circuit board materials and semiconductor packaging materials.
Firefighters battle a blaze after an explosion at the Panasonic Paasonic Industrial Devices Materials facility.
Source: Hsinchu County Fire Department
It is unclear how important the factory is to the wider electronics components supply chain or how long it may remain out of action. No reports have said whether, or for how long, the facility will be out of action.
Panasonic said it is investigating the details and cause of the accident.