TAIPEI -- Disaster reportedly struck a Tawainese PCB fabricator this morning as four workers died after falling into a wastewater tank.

CNA is reporting five workers fell unconscious while performing routine cleaning of the bath at a Unitech fab plant in northeastern Taiwan.

The hospital they were taken to later indicated four of the workers died, while the fifth was hospitalized with throat burns. Unitech later confirmed the accounts, CNA said.

The tragedy occurred when a worker who was cleaning the tank fell in, possibly due to dizziness after inhaling fumes from the bath. The others fell in during rescue attempts.

A local official cited the possibility of inhalation of hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas that is similar to carbon monoxide in its toxicity. He said the workers were not any protective gear during the cleaning operation, CNA reported. Taiwan News said the rescuers were wearing proper protective gear. PCD&F cannot confirm these accounts.

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