8 Chinese workers killed in Japanese plant in Xiamen

Asian Economic News, June 12, 2000

BEIJING, June 5 Kyodo

Eight female workers were killed in a predawn fire Sunday at a Japanese factory in a high-tech development area in Xiamen in China's Fujian Province, Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

Xinhua said the fire started at around 3 a.m. in a factory run by Xiamen Fuji Electrochemical, a joint venture between Tokyo-based Fuji Electrochemical Co. and another Japanese firm.

The report said the victims were among 252 workers who were producing motors and personal computer parts when the blaze broke out.

About a dozen Japanese are employed at the factory, but none was there when the fire began, Japanese diplomats said.

Xinhua said 15 fire engines and 120 soldiers were deployed to battle the fire.

Chinese authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, the report said.

Established in March 1994, Xiamen Fuji Electrochemical has 1,650 employees.