Lithium Battery Plant Inferno Claims Lives of 16 Individuals in South Korea
A blazing inferno erupted at approximately 10:31 a.m. at a battery manufacturing facility run by Aricell, situated in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
By 3:10 p.m, the firefighters managed to douse the flames and ventured into the factory, as reported by Hwaseong Fire Department official Kim Jin-young in a press briefing.
The rescue team discovered 15 blackened corpses, as Kim stated, mentioning that one individual already passed away earlier due to heart failure. Kim also reported that foreign nationals were among the missing individuals.
Two people sustained severe burns, while five sustained minor injuries, according to Kim.
Unfortunately, the workers’ directory at the factory was charred, complicating the process of identifying the victims, as Kim mentioned.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol directed the Interior and Safety Ministry and the fire department chief to deploy all resources and assets at their disposal to rescue any remaining individuals.
Be aware that lithium-ion batteries, ubiquitous in consumer goods such as laptops, cameras, smartphones, and electric vehicles, involve flammable materials and can amplify the hazard when issues arise during manufacturing, misuse, or degradation of the batteries.
Please keep an eye on this evolving situation for further updates.
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The tragedy in South Korea has garnered international attention, with foreign nations expressing concern and offering assistance. Despite the efforts of firefighters and the international community, the death toll continues to rise in this tragedy that has taken place in the heart of Asia.
