Fire at Battery Factory in South Korea Claims Around 20 Lives
Prior to a firefighter conversing with a deceased individual and 21 unaccounted-for persons, images from Yonhap revealed a blazing building with smokes ascending high into the sky from a factory. Multitudes of fire engines were lined up outside the structure.
The business presumed around 35,000 battery cells on the second floor of the factory, with additional units in other locations. Employees reported an initial explosion from a battery cell on the second floor, leading to further detonations. Lithium batteries burn rapidly and are challenging to tame using conventional firefighting techniques.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol mandated the authorities to congregate all available personnel and assets, focusing primarily on locating the missing. Local administration in Hwaseong also cautioned nearby residents about the conflagration and suggested they remain indoors due to the dense smoke.
South Korea plays a significant role in battery production, including those utilized in electric vehicles. South Korean corporations provide electric vehicle manufacturers globally, such as the Tesla Inc. conglomerate.
