A huge fire blazed for 17 hours last Sunday at a Nanya Plastics plant in Chiayi, causing serious damages to the environment. Chairman of Formosa Plastics Group, Wang Wen-yuan, apologized yesterday for the disaster, and later visited the county's Magistrate to start discussions over compensation.

The fire at a Nanya Plastic Corp. plant was finally extinguished after burning for 17 straight hours, but a great part of the plant was destroyed in the fire.

Fire fighters continue to water the plant in efforts to prevent another fire outbreak from the high temperatures.

Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hwa-kuan rushed to scene and immediately called a meeting to discuss damage control.

Chang stated that since last night, several cases of contaminated rain have been reported by residents who suspect the rain to be caused by the fire outbreak.

The Chiayi County Environmental Protection Bureau is also inspecting the Taiwan Water Corporation and reservoirs to find any indication of pollution from the fire.

There are no records to indicate whether Nanya Plastics Corp. reacted slowly during the fire outbreak, and the plant could not be reached for comment.

As the fire outbreak at Nanya Plastics Corp. puts public safety at risk, Formosa Plastic Group president, Wang Wenyuan, personally went to Chiayi to help extinguish the fire.

Wang will meet with Magistrate Chang to further discuss due action in the aftermath of the fire.