The fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea on Monday June 24 caused the death of one person and the disappearance of twenty-one others, according to local firefighters. One person also suffered serious burns, according to the same source. At this time, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
“We are still unable to go inside and carry out rescue operations. We will do it as soon as we have the fire under control.”Kim Jin-young, a member of the fire team at the scene, told reporters. “Twenty-one workers are currently missing. We plan to trace them using the contacts provided by the company”he added.
The fire broke out at a lithium battery factory, owned by South Korean manufacturer Aricell, in Hwaseong, south of Seoul. Images broadcast by the Yonhap agency showed plumes of gray smoke rising above the factory building ravaged by flames.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked local authorities to “mobilize all available personnel and equipment to concentrate on the search and rescue of people”, his office said. He also warned the authorities that they must “ensure the safety of firefighters given the rapid spread of the fire”.
Also read our decryption: Article reserved for our subscribers Transporting lithium batteries increases risk of container ship fires
Add to your selections
