DEATH TOLL OF WEAPONRY FACTORY BLAST RISES TO 3
ROC Central News Agency
2005-09-09 22:57:09
Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) The death toll from an explosion at a weaponry factory in Kaohsiung County Friday morning rose to three, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Two soldiers -- Chiu Kuo-chen, a sergeant first class, and Hsu Ming-cheng, a staff sergeant -- were killed immediately after a machine used in the production of ammunition blew up at the military-run factory in Kaohsiung County's Tashu township.
A third soldier, identified as Su Ching-kuo, also a staff sergeant, sustained critical injuries in the blast. Even though a medical team performed difficult surgery in efforts to save his life, Su died in the afternoon, a military spokesman said.
Minister of National Defense Lee Jye traveled to Kaohsiung in the evening to visit the families of the three deceased soldiers. Lee promised to offer the best possible pecuniary aid to the soldiers' bereaved families and assist them in handling the aftermath.
Lee said the defense ministry has formed a special task force to investigate the cause of the fatal accident.
The blast came just two days after a string of explosions rocked an ammunition depot on the Taiwan-held frontline island of Matsu, which lies closer to China's Fujian province than to Taiwan. No one was injured, and the military is still investigating the explosions.
Also on Wednesday, Army Capt. Sun Chi-hsiang was killed when an armored vehicle suddenly accelerated during an operation at a military base in central Taiwan. Investigators are still probing the case.
MND spokesman Rear Adm. Liu Chih-chien said Lee has ordered a thorough review of military operations and sorted out all the causes of those accidents in order to draft improvement measures.
Before the causes are determined, Liu said, relevant operations will be suspended for safety concerns.
(By Sofia Wu)
enditem/mw
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