Aerospace Industrial Development Corp.’s (AIDC) manufacturing plant in Taichung has been ordered to suspend operations after a fire at its premises Wednesday morning left one dead and six injured, according to the city government.

Taichung Labor Affairs Bureau said it has dispatched personnel to inspect the AIDC factory and ordered it to suspend operations to facilitate an investigation into the cause of the fire.

If the plant is found to have violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it will face a fine ranging from NT$30,000-NT$300,000 (US$1,086-US$10,860).

Taichung firefighters received a report of a fire at the factory at 10:12 a.m. Wednesday and dispatched a number of firefighters, fire trucks, and ambulances to the site, the city’s fire department said in a statement.

The fire happened at AIDC’s plant in Taichung’s Xitun District and was likely set off by an explosion caused by aluminum alloy dust according to an initial investigation, firefighters said.

One of the seven individuals rescued suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), meaning the person was not breathing and had no heartbeat before arriving at the hospital, according to the fire department.

The patient was later declared dead by doctors.

The six others rescued from the blaze, one who received burns to the hands, feet and face, and five who suffered only minor injuries, were taken to three hospitals in Taichung.

The fire was brought under control at about 10:26 a.m., the firefighters said, adding that the fire department is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel