TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A pre-dawn fire erupted Monday (July 14) at a lithium battery manufacturing facility in southern Taiwan, hospitalizing 15 people and triggering chemical exposure concerns in the surrounding area. The blaze began at 5:10 a.m. at E-One Moli Energy Corporation (三元能源科技), a subsidiary of Taiwan Cement Corporation (台泥), located in Kaohsiung City's Xiaogang District (高雄市小港區). Environmental officials detected hydrofluoric acid concentrations of 0.774 parts per million around 10 a.m., prompting authorities to issue emergency alerts to residents' mobile phones.
Company officials issued a statement expressing "deep regret" for the incident that disrupted the community and caused public anxiety. E-One Moli Energy pledged complete cooperation with ongoing investigations and emergency response efforts. The corporation reported that all 15 injured individuals, including three firefighters, had been treated primarily for minor abrasions sustained during evacuation and rescue operations and subsequently released from medical care.
The battery manufacturer has initiated a comprehensive employee support program through its human resources department, establishing a dedicated task force to address workers' physical and psychological needs following the traumatic event. Company representatives emphasized their commitment to collaborating with regulatory authorities on enhanced safety protocols and operational improvements. Kaohsiung's Environmental Protection Bureau (環保局) has deployed monitoring equipment around the industrial site to continuously assess air quality conditions for public safety. ◼