A devastating fire broke out at a lithium battery manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, on Monday morning, resulting in multiple fatalities. The fire occurred at a factory run by battery manufacturer Aricell, located south of the capital city, Seoul.
The blaze started around 10:30 a.m. local time after a series of battery cells exploded inside a warehouse containing approximately 35,000 battery units. Kim Jin-young, a local fire official, confirmed that the explosion triggered the fire.
The fire was mostly extinguished by the time officials addressed the media. According to Yonhap news agency, about 20 bodies were initially reported found inside the factory. However, in a televised briefing, Kim Jin-young stated that nine people were confirmed dead and four others were injured. Among the injured, two are in critical condition.
Firefighters and emergency personnel quickly responded to the scene to control the fire and rescue the victims. The authorities are continuing their efforts to ensure the area is safe and to investigate the exact cause of the explosion and fire.
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Aricell, the company operating the factory, has not yet released a statement regarding the incident. South Korean government officials are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the explosion and subsequent fire.
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