HWASEONG, South Korea — A powerful explosion ignited a devastating fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea on Monday, claiming the lives of 22 workers, most of whom were Chinese nationals, according to local fire officials.
The fire broke out at a factory operated by battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, an industrial hub about 90 minutes southwest of Seoul. The blaze, which has since been largely extinguished, resulted in the deaths of 18 Chinese workers and one Laotian. The nationality of the remaining deceased worker has yet to be confirmed, stated Kim Jin-young, a local fire official.
The incident began at 10:31 a.m. (0131 GMT) following a series of battery cell explosions inside a warehouse containing approximately 35,000 units. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, Kim added.
A Reuters witness observed firefighters removing up to six bodies from the factory. The intense heat of the fire has complicated the identification process of the deceased, Kim noted.
Two individuals are being treated for severe burns, according to officials at the scene.
Live TV footage displayed firefighters dousing the damaged steel and concrete structure, which had partially collapsed. Large sections of the building appeared to have been blown into the street by the explosion, and aerial footage showed thick smoke plumes emanating from the site.
Kim Jae-ho, a professor of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Daejeon University, suggested that the fire likely spread too rapidly for workers to escape. “Battery materials such as nickel are easily flammable,” he explained. “So often, there is not enough time to respond, compared to a fire caused by other materials.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol is closely monitoring the situation, his office reported. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has urged local authorities to take measures to prevent any hazardous chemicals from contaminating the surrounding area.
Established in 2020, Aricell manufactures lithium primary batteries for sensors and radio communication devices and employs 48 people, according to its latest regulatory filing and LinkedIn profile. Calls to Aricell offices went unanswered.
Aricell is not listed on South Korea’s stock market but is majority-owned by S-Connect, which is registered on the junior Kosdaq index. Following the incident, S-Connect’s shares closed down by 22.5%.
South Korea, a major industrial economy, has been striving to improve its safety record following several past accidents attributed to negligence.