Deadly Fire at Lithium Battery Factory in South Korea Kills Over 20, Mostly Chinese Workers
Fire at South Korean lithium battery factory near Seoul killed over 20, mostly Chinese workers.
On June 24, 2024, a devastating fire broke out at a lithium battery manufacturing factory in Hwaseong city, near Seoul, South Korea, claiming the lives of more than 20 individuals. The majority of the victims were identified as workers from China, with one individual from Laos also among the casualties. The factory, owned by South Korean battery maker Aricell, became the site of a horrific incident as rescue workers combed through the aftermath, retrieving the bodies of those who tragically lost their lives in the blaze.
Fire at South Korea battery factory
According to local fire official Kim Jin-young, the fire erupted as workers were examining and packaging batteries, leading to a series of explosions within the factory. The exact cause of the fire is set to undergo a thorough investigation. Kim emphasized that the mobile phone signals of missing individuals were traced to the second floor of the establishment, indicating the location of the fatal event.
Response and Recovery Efforts
President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the immediate mobilization of all available personnel and equipment to search for survivors, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Emergency personnel were seen transporting the bodies of the victims from the scene, while firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the aftermath of the fire at the severely damaged factory. Kim Jae-ho, a fire and disaster prevention professor at Daejeon University, expressed that the rapid spread of the fire likely impeded the escape of many workers, as battery materials such as nickel are highly flammable.
Investigation and Continued Oversight
With a total of 102 individuals present at the factory during the occurrence of the fire, officials are committed to ascertaining the effectiveness of the fire extinguishing systems and the overall safety protocols in place. The tragic event has underscored the need for comprehensive safety measures and oversight in industrial facilities to prevent such devastating incidents from occurring in the future.
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