Three Foxconn employees were killed in an explosion in an Apple Computer assembly plant in Chengdu China on May 20. An additional fifteen employees were hurt. Six were treated and released from hospital care. The explosion should not affect iPhone and iPad production.
Some reports speculated that the explosion would delay the release of the iPhone 5 until after September and cause iPad shortages. Bloomberg reports that the plant is for computer assembly and is only a test run for iPad assembly.Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said, "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the Foxconn plant in Chengdu
and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are working
closely with Foxconn to understand what caused this terrible event."
The explosion appears to be caused by combustible dust in a duct at a polishing workshop at the plant.
Foxconn employees have been known to commit suicide at a high rate. Steve Jobs, in the past, has said that the Foxconn is not a
sweatshop because
factories have restaurants, movie theaters, hospitals and swimming
pools.