Aug 23, 8:49 AM EDT
Two killed in fire caused by Sanyo electric fan
TOKYO (AP) -- An electric fan produced by Sanyo Electric Co. caused a fire and killed two people this week, the company said Thursday, apologizing and urging consumers to stop using the decades-old model.
The accident occurred in Tokyo on Monday, when fire broke out from the fan, produced in 1970, apparently due to decay in its motor and other parts, Sanyo said in a statement. It denied any design flaw or other defects in the case.
"We confirmed the accident was caused by the fire from the fan," the company said. "We take the accident very seriously."
The Osaka-based electronics maker received reports of 23 other cases of similar incidents since 2000, including two other people who suffered burns from the fire, according to company spokesman Akihiko Oiwa.
Sanyo urged consumers who still use old models of electric fans to stop using the products to avoid risk.
A total of 6.7 million fans were produced, and several thousand of them could be still used, he said. The fans had been exported to Africa and South America about 40 years ago, but the company believes none of them are used today, Oiwa said.
The accidents were an embarrassment for the company that has plagued with product recalls in recent years.
Earlier this year, Sanyo recalled thousands of dryers after several cases of fire were reported. One person suffered a burn.
The company also recalled battery packs for laptop computers and mobile phones.
In May, the firm announced it will establish a division to monitor quality and customer satisfaction.
Sanyo is trying to get back on track under a group of investors led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., who last year invested US$2.6 billion to bail out the company.
Rofl 1970.......XD
GG. Idiots.
This was cleary their own fault.
They were old, apparently.
Both the fan and the couple.
cuz they've used fan even though its broken....thire fault..