Three Vietnamese Nationals Died as Suspected Explosion during Maintenance Work Causes Fire

The February 6 fire that devasted the five-story warehouse building of Kerry Logistics Company in Guanyin District, Taoyuan City took the lives of three Vietnamese while leaving one in critical condition.

The reported Vietnamese nationals who lost their lives on the fire were Ruan Feng-Xiong (30 years old), Ruan Wen-qin (33 years old), and Zeng Wen-sheng (34 years old). Zeng was the last one to be announced as a casualty in the fire. His remains were identified by his wife and brother who are also working in Taiwan. He was married to his wife for three years and had been working in Taiwan for three months.

Zeng and Ruan Wen-qin were the last two victims discovered. Their bodies were discovered in front of the building’s second-floor elevator.

Ruan De-sheng(35 years old) was reported to be in critical condition. He is still on life support and is in the intensive care unit.

The discovery of the fire started when six Vietnamese employees went to the building at around 8 in the morning of the said date to do maintenance work on the air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment for the Lunar New Year holiday period. At 10:19 am, the fire alarm was opened.

The Taoyuan City Fire Department assigned thirty-nine (39) firefighting equipment and one hundred three (103) firefighters to fight the fire in the building.

It almost took the firefighters an entire day to put the fire under their control. The fire was finally extinguished at around 5:30 am on February 7.

Photo by United Daily News

The United Daily News believes that the fire was due to an explosion that might have resulted from the maintenance work that was being performed by the maintenance staff of the company during those hours.
Mr. Chen, the sub-contractor and two other workers were able to escape the wrath of the fire. These people will be providing the District Prosecutor their statements on the said fire.

Sources: United Daily News, TVBS, CNA.