Authorities said one person remained missing following a fire at a golf ball factory in Taiwan, after forensic analysis revealed that some bones found earlier in the day were not human.
The blaze killed nine other people, including four firefighters. Launch Technologies Co., the operator of the plant, is a major global supplier of golf balls.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency, quoting a Pingtung County fire official, said an explosion caused part of the building to collapse, trapping firefighters and workers under rubble. A second explosion followed 20 minutes later.
More than 100 people were injured in the blaze at Pingtung Technology Industrial Park.
Taiwan is a major manufacturer of golf balls, with factories supplying major brands including Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Mizuno and Wilson, according to the 2021 annual report of Launch Technologies.
Launch Technologies, which is listed on the Taipei Exchange, shipped about 260 million golf balls last year, accounting for one-fifth of the global total, the Central News Agency said. About 80% of its sales are in the United States.
