Dozens of people have died in a fire at a lithium battery factory in the South Korean city of Hwaseong, South Korean media reported.
At least 20 people have been killed in a fire that broke out at an Aricell lithium battery factory 45 kilometres south of South Korea’s capital Seoul.
The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. local time. Firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the fire have proved difficult and costly as there are about 35,000 lithium batteries inside the facility and the risk is very high.
Although it is still unknown what may have caused the fire, a worker who managed to escape the blaze and was on the first floor told firefighters that one of the batteries suddenly caught fire. This could have caused a chain reaction, given the large number of lithium batteries in the building. It is also reported that 102 people were working at the factory before the fire.
The Seoul Fire Department mobilised 145 firefighters and 50 pieces of equipment.
Lithium batteries used in phones, laptops and electric cars are known to explode or catch fire due to a phenomenon known as thermal breakdown, which can occur when overheating or breakdown occurs.
South Korea is a leading exporter of lithium batteries with top industry players such as LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On.
