“At least 75 people have been killed and hundreds more injured by an explosion at a car part factory in China,” The Week UK reports. “Industrial accidents are not unusual in China – in 2012 more than 70,000 people died – but this one has made headlines in the west because it might delay production of the iPhone 6.”
“Apple is expected to unveil the handset in mid September, and recent reports have suggested that it will go on sale about a month later. But those forecasts are now in doubt,” The Week UK reports. “‘It’s thought the delays could impact on Foxconn, a key part of Apple’s supply chain, who recently took on 10,000 new staff to cope with the demand for iPhone 6,’ the Daily Mirror reports.”
“The factory affected by the blast is unconnected with the Apple supply chain, but in response to the accident Chinese authorities have ordered production to a halt at any plants carrying out similar work,” The Week UK reports. “Aluminium alloy used in the iPhone body is polished at Foxconn, according to the New York Post. In May 2011, three people died in an explosion at Foxconn’s metal polishing workshop, the South China Morning Post reports.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Nope.
Our condolences to all of those affected by this tragedy.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
In other news, a solar eclipse of Mars threatens life as we know it on Jupiter. Or something like that.
Very good!
Totally accurate analogy, because that factory has nothing to do with Apple or Foxconn or anything that could even theoretically influence iPhone manufacturing.
The difference, I suspect, is in the individual nature of that German Shepherd picture. If they sent you a pamphlet wherein the statement, “75 animals will be put to sleep this month,” it wouldn’t stir you as much.
If you could spend five minutes with the family of one of those killed in this accident, I’m sure you would be terribly moved by the tragedy that has befallen them.
God-endowed trait or time-evolved behavior, compassion for individuals (and other creatures) we meet face to face seems to be deeply rooted in nearly all of us.
Whoops. This was supposed to go with a comment below. (I’m still figuring out the MDN app, I guess.)
Since I can’t delete it, ignore this one; I’ll re-post on the other comment to preserve the context.
i like the way you think, inquisitive engineer. we are human. as much as i abhor ip theft and blatant design ripoff like what’s been from shamsung, xiaomi, ms, goggle and countless others, i’d think very little of myself if this news could find no empathy in this tiny beating heart.
I’m embarrassed to say that my first thought was about how this effects Apple’s delivery of an iPhone. The fact that 75 people lost their lives just glossed right over me, let alone that hundreds were injured.
It’s official. I’m no longer human. What was that Stalin quote? 1 death is a tragedy, a million a statistic? Or something like that. I can say “I’m sorry for them and their families,” or “Our prayers go out to the families,” but I’d be lying through my teeth. I’m an atheist, and I feel nothing.
A hundred here, a thousand there, 800 here, 170,000 there.
I don’t feel anything. It’s China, right? They have 1.3 billion more (that they know of). So what’s 75?
Yet the Humane Society sends me a picture of a German Shepard Dog holding up a broken paw, an my heart breaks.
Man. I’m jaded.
The difference, I suspect, is in the individual nature of that German Shepherd picture. If they sent you a pamphlet wherein the statement, “75 animals will be put to sleep this month,” it wouldn’t stir you as much.
If you could spend five minutes with the family of one of those killed in this accident, I’m sure you would be terribly moved by the tragedy that has befallen them.
God-endowed trait or time-evolved behavior, compassion for individuals (and other creatures) we meet face to face seems to be deeply rooted in nearly all of us.
Here you go Thelonious, just the thing to refresh your humanity.
They say you need the Bible to give you morals. All I know is i didn’t need any religion or book to give me morals. I am athiest like you.
I feel for the dead…..everyday hundreds dying for no reason. The enablers continue to sell the perpetrators the weapons with which to accomplish the task.
If you feel nothing ?
They say you need the Bible to give you morals. All I know is i didn’t need any religion or book to give me morals. I am athiest like you.
I feel for the dead…..everyday hundreds dying for no reason. The enablers continue to sell the perpetrators the weapons with which to accomplish the task.
If you feel nothing then maybe the Bible thumpers might be right; morals are not “built in”.
Put Apple in the headline so people will read the article. Sure, a nationwide halt is called while inspections are made. Really, though? This is going to delay launch? Not.
Really really hoping my next upgrade which will be the iPhone 6 don’t get delayed.
Or it might just be raining iphones… your choose (as always).
Sad story .These explosions are usually due to dust being in contact with oxygen in the presence of an ignition source and happen also in grain silos , sawmills and mines and of course fuel/air bombs
The videos that I have seen of Apple production facilities are usually scrupulously clean( see the Mac Pro production video)
“in response to the accident Chinese authorities have ordered production to a halt at any plants . . .”
I thought Foxconn was located in Taiwan, not mainland China.
Taiwan is considered part of China, just not a province. Think of it like Guam and Puerto Rico, and their part in the USA.
Foxconn is the Chinese manufacturing arm of Taiwan based Hon Hai.
Another desperate day of hit whoring tech journalists attempting to connect anything-at-all to Apple.
zzzzz