Kaohsiung, Taiwan — A fire broke out early Monday morning at the Molicel lithium-ion battery facility in Kaohsiung’s Xiaogang District, leaving 12 factory workers and three firefighters injured. Emergency responders quickly transported all injured individuals to nearby hospitals for treatment of minor burns and abrasions.
According to the Kaohsiung Fire Department, the blaze was reported around 5 a.m. at the factory on Changchun Street. A total of 46 emergency vehicles and 91 firefighters, including a fire-fighting robot, were dispatched to contain the incident.
Authorities also deployed police personnel for traffic control around the affected area.
The fire produced a large plume of smoke visible near Kaohsiung International Airport, though airport operations remained uninterrupted, according to airport officials cited by local media.
In response to concerns over air quality, the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) issued an advisory urging residents in the vicinity to stay indoors and keep windows shut. The EPB reported elevated levels of suspended particulate matter—measured at 0.041 mg/m³—with PM2.5 readings ranging from 16.5 to 67 μg/m³ within a six-kilometer radius. No hazardous gases or chemicals were detected, the bureau said.
Officials indicated that the incident may constitute a violation of Article 32 of the Air Pollution Control Act. The responsible party could face fines ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$5 million (approximately US$3,420 to US$171,000).
Molicel, founded in 2021 as a subsidiary of Taiwan Cement Corporation, operates as Kaohsiung’s first large-scale producer of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. The facility manufactures rechargeable power cells for global clients in the electric vehicle and aerospace sectors.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of property damage.
