Foxconn’s Plant in China Has Fire, Killing Two

[KeepItReal]

Source: Bloomberg

Foxconn Technology Group, maker of Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPhone and Dell Inc. (DELL) computers, had an explosion and fire at a plant in southwest China’s Sichuan province yesterday that killed two people and injured 16.

The blast on Foxconn’s Chengdu campus occurred at about 7 p.m. local time, Edmund Ding, a company spokesman, wrote in an e-mail today. The fire department has the incident under control, and the company is cooperating with an investigation and contacting the families of affected workers, he said.

...

The affected plant makes Apple’s iPad2 tablet computers, the Economic Observer said on its website yesterday, citing unidentified company workers. Gou couldn’t confirm this in a telephone interview today. Gou is flying to Chengdu, the paper said, citing unidentified company employees.

Police in Chengdu said they concluded preliminarily that the explosion, in a polishing workshop, wasn’t intentionally caused, China News Service said. The fire has been extinguished, China Central Television reported after 11 p.m. local time.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-20/foxconn-says-chengdu-plant-has-explosion-fire-this-evening.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[montanto]

2. Ludites?

[My Good Babushka]

3. Are you suggesting that

because people use technology that they have to condone the horrible sweatshop conditions under which it's produced? Like people who work at McDonald's must all want to destroy the rainforest, too. Sometimes people are coerced into doing things that are a displeasure out of economic necessity, but we can still exert pressure in the direction of change.

[Fuddnik]

4. Like not buying Apple and Dell products?

Nah, we'll sign a petition. That'll put the fear of Yahweh in them!

[KoKo]

6. Was this Apple Plant the one that DU'ers have posted about with Terrible Worker Abuse?

That was my first though...OMG! someone finally too the law into their own hands and had enough.

If so we might expect to see more "explosions of one kind or another" from China in the coming years.

It's hard to know the REAL details of this, though. But, if it's that plant who was abusing workers that's been subject of worldwide reports, (including here on DU), then I would think "something is goin on in China."

BTW.. Since this was reported I haven't seen MSM reporting of this beyond the "explosion" on either MSNBC or CNN. Granted I have to work so can't be monitoring this 24/7 or all day.

Anyone see any "further, in depth reporting of what "REALLY HAPPENED?"

[jberryhill]

5. Google operatives, lol /nt

[Endangered Specie]

7. Guess those will be the 'open box' specials

[Vehl]

8. This is the copany that requires its workers to sign no-suicide agreements right?

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/050611apple

Apple Factory Workers Forced to Sign Anti-Suicide Agreements..

[mahatmakanejeeves]

9. UPDATE 1-Foxconn confirms 3rd death at plant linked to iPad

UPDATE 1-Foxconn confirms 3rd death at plant linked to iPad

Sun May 22, 2011 2:07pm EDT

(Adds details)

NEW YORK May 22 (Reuters) - Foxconn Technology Co Ltd (2354.TW) on Sunday confirmed that a third person has died following a large explosion at a plant in southwestern China on Friday that local media have linked to production of Apple's iPad 2.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. Gee...high demand for lower-priced iPad2, and now a fire...hmmmmmm

:tinfoilhat: