ISTANBUL 

A fire at a chemical fiber factory in Taiwan early Thursday killed two workers and injured 19 others, local media reported.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at 2:53 a.m. local time (1853GMT, Wednesday) and extinguished it by 3:30 a.m. (1930GMT), according to Focus Taiwan.

The local fire department said two employees suffered fatal heart attacks—one at the scene and the other later in the hospital.

Of the 19 injured, five are said to be in critical condition, while the remaining 14 sustained minor wounds.

The company said the fire was caused by a gas explosion linked to a leak in an insulation pipe. It pledged support for the victims and their families.

Despite the incident, production at the factory remains unaffected, with daily output continuing at around 160 tons of chemical fiber, the company added.

Residents noted it was the fifth fire at the facility since 2019.