A series of powerful explosions caused a fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea, killing 22 workers, most of whom were Chinese nationals. According to fire officials on Monday, the fire burned uncontrollably for nearly six hours before being mostly extinguished.
The blaze occurred at a factory operated by Aricell, a primary battery manufacturer in Hwaseong, southwest of Seoul.
A total of 102 people were working at the factory before the fire broke out, the Associated Press cited a local official as saying.
According to Reuters, among the dead were 18 Chinese workers and one Laotian, while the nationality of the remaining deceased worker remains unknown.
While the cause of the explosions is still unclear, fire official Kim Jin-young reported that the fire started at 10:31 a.m. (0131 GMT) following a series of battery cell explosions in a warehouse containing about 35,000 units.
The intensity of the fire made it difficult to identify the victims, Kim said, adding that two people were being treated for severe burns.
In a Google-translated social media update, South Korea’s National Fire Agency said that 145 personnel and 50 pieces of equipment were deployed in response to the fire.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was monitoring the situation, his office said, while Interior Minister Lee Sang-min called on the local authorities to prevent hazardous chemicals from contaminating the surroundings.
According to its LinkedIn page, Aricell, established in 2020, produces lithium batteries for sensors and radio communication devices.
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