Fire breaks out at battery plant in South Korea; 20 dead
According to the Yonhap news agency, some 20 fatalities were discovered at a South Korean lithium battery factory following a huge fire on Monday, with firemen still investigating the facility.
Firefighter Kim Jin-young told reporters that around 100 people were working in the facility when they heard a series of explosions on the second level, where lithium-ion batteries are examined and packaged.
Some 78 individuals were declared safe, while many more remained missing, with Yonhap reporting that “about 20 bodies (were) found” at the scene after rescue workers were finally able to enter.
Kim told the reporters that they had extinguished the factory’s major fire and were removing bodies from the charred building.
“A rescue team has gone inside and is carrying out search and rescue operations,” he informed me.
Yonhap released images after the fire broke out, showing massive plumes of billowing grey smoke rising into the sky above the plant, as well as orange flames inside the building. Dozens of fire engines were spotted outside.
The huge factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on the second floor, with more batteries kept elsewhere.
Lithium batteries burn extremely hot and quickly, making conventional fire suppression methods ineffective.
Also read: Swiss Court convicts 4 members of Hinduja family for exploiting servants
South Korean President issued emergency instructions to ‘mobilise all personnel’
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued emergency instructions to authorities, directing them to “mobilise all available personnel and equipment to focus on searching for and rescuing people,” according to his office.
The president also warned authorities to “ensure the safety of firefighters, given the rapid spread of fire.”
Firefighting and rescue activities were underway, and the source of the incident remained unknown.
Authorities in Hwaseong issued a series of advisories to residents, telling them to stay indoors.
