Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
A devastating explosion ignited a fire at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, on Monday, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and leaving five people missing, according to the Yonhap News Agency. The cause of the explosion remains unknown as the search and rescue operation is ongoing.
The incident occurred at a factory operated by battery manufacturer Aricell, situated in Hwaseong, an industrial hub approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
The blaze, which has now been largely contained, erupted following a series of battery cell explosions within a warehouse housing around 35,000 units, said Kim Jin-young, a local fire official.
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Earlier in the day, the fire department reported that the blaze broke out around 10:30 a.m. at the three-story, reinforced concrete building with a total floor space of approximately 2,300 square meters.
Despite firefighting efforts continuing into the early afternoon, small explosions and showers of sparks complicated the efforts to control the fire.
A witness who escaped from the plant’s second floor reported witnessing an explosive combustion in a battery cell at the onset of the fire. The blaze spread rapidly as the battery cells continued to explode, making rescue operations hazardous. Conventional firefighting methods have proven insufficient in dealing with the burning lithium batteries.
Approximately 67 workers were on duty at the time of the incident, with 21 individuals still out of contact, raising concerns about further casualties.
In response to the disaster, the South Korean government convened an emergency meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to discuss measures to mitigate casualties and manage the ongoing crisis.
The cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.
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Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
