Exploding lithium batteries caused a massive fire in an Aricell factory near Seoul, South Korea, and claimed the lives of at least 22 people, according to the local fire service.
Fire official Kim Jin-young told news agency AFP that 18 Chinese, one Laotian and two South Korean workers were confirmed among the dead. A final body was yet to be identified, and there are fears at least one more person may be missing.
“Most of the bodies are badly burned so it will take some time to identify each one,” he reportedly said.
A further eight people were injured – two seriously – out of the 100 who had been working when the fire broke out. The blaze was first reported at 10:31 am local time on Monday. Television footage showed fumes billowing from the factory. The roof partly collapsed, according to reports. Firefighters used sand to put out the fire after about six hours.
The factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on its second floor. The batteries were inspected and packaged there. More were reportedly stored elsewhere. Kim said the fire began when a series of battery cells exploded. It is not established what caused the explosion.
Reuters reported that South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the scene of the fire on Monday. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min called on local authorities to prevent hazardous chemicals from contaminating the surrounding area.
Established in 2020, South Korean Aricell makes lithium thionyl chloride batteries for metering, sensors and radio communication devices, according to its LinkedIn profile.
