TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taichung Fire Bureau (臺中市政府消防局) confirmed the tragic death of a 45-year-old worker following a fire at a fresh food processing plant operated by PX Mart (全聯) in Taichung's (台中市) Dadu District (大肚區) on Thursday afternoon (Dec. 19). The bureau also reported that between five and eight individuals remain missing in the wake of the devastating blaze.
The fire ignited in the basement of Sunmake Enterprise Co., Ltd (台灣善美的公司) at 1:24 p.m., fueled by flammable polystyrene boards, while over 30 workers were present, according to Bureau Director-General Sun Fu-You (孫福佑). Firefighters rescued five individuals from a third-floor balcony and assisted 14 people from the rooftop, with three others still attempting to escape. Despite these efforts, authorities continue their search for the missing individuals, as control efforts to manage the fire remain ongoing.
A 45-year-old worker, trapped by the flames, jumped from the third floor in a desperate bid for survival and was transported to Kuang Tien General Hospital in Shalu (沙鹿光田醫院), where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The fire, which engulfed the second floor of the four-story building, prompted an extensive emergency response. Authorities dispatched 17 units, which included 34 fire trucks and eight ambulances, deploying 91 firefighters under the command of Deputy Director Yang Yuan-Ji (楊元吉). The intense flames and thick smoke have complicated rescue operations. Emergency services persist in their efforts to control the blaze and locate the missing individuals.
