Massive Fire Destroys Used Clothing Factory in New Taipei City; No Injuries Reported
A massive blaze tore through a used clothing factory in New Taipei City’s Wugu District on Sunday, April 12, 2026, engulfing four interconnected buildings and sending towering plumes of thick smoke into the sky.
The fire broke out at approximately 8:14 PM on Minyi Road Section 2. Due to the highly flammable nature of the stored used clothing and the factory’s corrugated iron construction, the flames spread with extreme speed. Early reports indicate that four factories were entirely consumed by a fire covering approximately 5,676 square meters. The intensity of the inferno was so severe that it caused portions of the four-story corrugated iron facility to collapse.
The New Taipei City Fire Department initially deployed 35 firefighters and 11 vehicles to the scene. However, as the fire continued to grow, the response was scaled up to include 65 personnel and 45 vehicles to combat the flames. Authorities confirmed that no one was trapped inside the buildings at the time of the incident.
The environmental impact of the blaze prompted urgent safety warnings. The New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau advised residents in Wugu, Bali, and Linkou to keep their windows closed to avoid smoke inhalation. Officials recommended that the public wear masks when going outdoors, citing the air quality risks following recent industrial fires in New Taipei City.
This massive fire in Wugu underscores the inherent dangers associated with industrial zones featuring interconnected, combustible building materials. The exact cause of the evening blaze remains under investigation and will be determined once the fire is fully extinguished and the site is secured.
