A devastating fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea has claimed the lives of at least 22 people, most of whom were foreign nationals, local officials confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred at a facility operated by battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
The blaze erupted around 10:31 a.m. local time, following a series of powerful explosions inside a warehouse containing approximately 35,000 battery units, according to fire department official Kim Jin-young. Despite efforts by firefighters, the fire raged out of control for nearly six hours before it was largely extinguished by 3:10 p.m. Rescue workers then entered the factory to search for victims.
Among the deceased, 18 were Chinese nationals and one was from Laos, with the nationality of one remaining victim yet to be confirmed. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed the Interior and Safety Ministry and the head of the fire department to mobilize all available personnel and equipment to rescue survivors and address the aftermath of the tragedy.
The fire, which resulted from explosions within the facility, left a trail of destruction. Live TV footage showed firefighters battling the flames as smoke billowed from the damaged steel and concrete structure. The intensity of the blaze caused parts of the upper level to collapse and large chunks of the building to be blown out into the street.
In Hwaseong, South Korea, a fire at the Aricell lithium battery factory has resulted in at least 20 deaths. The fire, which started on the second floor, led to explosions and thick smoke, complicating firefighting efforts.
The fire department mobilized 159 firefighters and 63… pic.twitter.com/ZgkAOlYIqp — Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) June 24, 2024
Fire official Kim Jin-young noted the difficulties in identifying the victims due to the severe burns sustained by many. "Due to the intensity of the blaze, rescuers were finding it difficult to identify the dead," he said.
Two people are currently being treated for major burns, while five others sustained minor injuries. The incident highlights the inherent dangers of lithium battery manufacturing, where materials such as nickel are highly flammable, often leaving little time for workers to escape in the event of a fire.
Kim Jae-ho, a professor of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Daejeon University, commented on the rapid spread of the fire, stating, "Battery materials such as nickel are easily flammable. So often, there is not enough time to respond, compared to a fire caused by other materials."
President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the scene later on Monday, and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min called for measures to prevent hazardous chemicals from contaminating the surrounding area. Established in 2020, Aricell manufactures lithium primary batteries for sensors and radio communication devices. According to regulatory filings and its LinkedIn profile, the company has 48 employees. Calls to Aricell offices went unanswered.
The company is majority-owned by S-Connect, which is listed on the junior Kosdaq index. Following news of the incident, S-Connect's shares plummeted by 22.5%. Park Chul-wan, a professor at Seojeong University, indicated that the high death toll might be due to the extremely toxic materials used in the manufacturing process, suggesting that many victims were likely affected by the toxic fumes rather than burns.
"The fact that there were so many casualties when this was only on the second floor is because of the toxic materials and not so much because of burns," Park said.
South Korea has a history of industrial accidents, many of which have been attributed to negligence. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in improving workplace safety. In response to previous accidents, the South Korean parliament passed a law aimed at holding company executives accountable for fatal accidents, including the possibility of jail terms.
