A tragic incident unfolded at a lithium battery factory in South Korea on Monday, resulting in the loss of at least 22 lives, with the majority being foreign nationals. The fire erupted at approximately 10:31 a.m. local time at a plant run by battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, located about 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
The flames were successfully extinguished by 3:10 p.m., allowing firefighters to enter the factory premises. According to a briefing by a Hwaseong Fire Department official, Kim Jin-young, among the deceased were two South Koreans and 20 foreigners, predominantly Chinese nationals. Tragically, rescue teams discovered several charred bodies, and one individual succumbed to cardiac arrest. Additionally, two individuals sustained severe burns, while five others suffered minor injuries.
The identification of victims proved to be challenging as the factory's worker directory was destroyed in the fire, as mentioned by Kim. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promptly instructed the Interior and Safety Ministry, along with the fire department chief, to deploy all available resources and personnel to conduct rescue operations diligently.
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in various consumer electronics such as laptops, cameras, smartphones, and electric vehicles, pose potential risks due to manufacturing defects, improper usage, and battery aging, given their use of flammable materials.
