Tragedy in South Korea: at least 22 dead due to fire in battery factory

Fire in a plant lithium batteries in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, claimed the lives of at least 22 people who diedmost of them Chinese citizens, local authorities reported this Monday, June 24, 2024.

The fire, which broke out on the second floor of the factory belonging to Aricell, a prominent South Korean manufacturer specialized in batteries, caused a series of explosions that triggered the incident. More than 100 people were working at the site at the time of the incident.

Firefighters managed to control the flames after an arduous effort, but access to the charred building was difficult due to the possibility of new explosions. According to Kim Jin-young, spokesperson for the fire brigade, Identification of the victims was made difficult by the severe burns suffered by the bodies.

“Until now, “The deaths of 22 people have been confirmed, including 18 Chinese citizens, one from Laos and another person whose nationality has not yet been determined.”Kim declared to the press.

rescue teams They continue searching for a person who is still missing while performing operations cooling to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby facilities.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has urged the mobilization of all available resources for search and rescue effortsemphasizing the safety of firefighters in the face of the rapid spread of the fire.

The tragic event has generated a massive emergency response in the areawith warnings to local residents to stay indoors due to heavy smoke generated by the fire. Cautionary messages have been issued by local authorities, urging people to close windows and avoid affected areas.

Had previous events occurred?

This incident adds to a series of previous industrial disasters in South Korea, reminiscent of past tragedies such as the Yeosu chemical accident in 1989. and the warehouse fire in Icheon in 2020, which claimed lives and left a deep mark on the country.

The use of lithium batteries is essential in various sectors, from electric vehicles to portable electronic devicesunderscoring the importance of safety in the facilities that produce them.

The government and local authorities are committed to clarifying the causes of the fire and ensure additional measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.