Fire at Taiwan's Hsinta power plant during roof waterproofing work
Oct 2026Published 31 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Taiwan Power
What happened
On 31 October 2026, a fire broke out at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, operated by Taiwan Power Company. The fire was on the roof of the boiler house for the new gas unit 3, where waterproofing work was under way. The waterproofing membrane material caught fire for reasons not yet known. The alarm was raised at 11:54 and the Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau sent 16 fire engines and 40 fire and rescue personnel.
The fire was extinguished at 12:24. Taiwan Power Company said there were no injuries and that the incident did not affect operational safety. The plant had suffered an explosion and fire in September 2025. The company said it has controlled the incident area and will work with relevant agencies and the construction contractor to establish the cause and review construction safety measures.
Contributing factors
The source states that the waterproofing membrane material ignited for an unknown reason while waterproofing work was in progress. The cause has not been determined and is under investigation. The company said it will review construction safety measures.
Lessons learned
- Check the ignition and combustion properties of roofing and waterproofing materials before work starts on or near energy plant buildings.
- Control hot work and contractor activities under a permit system with a fire watch and an emergency plan that reflects the materials being installed.
- After an earlier fire or explosion at a site, review contractor activities and construction safety before allowing further work in the same area.
More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-31. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
