A devastating fire at a lithium battery factory near Seoul on Monday resulted in the deaths of 22 workers, predominantly migrant labourers from China, marking one of the most fatal fires in South Korea in recent years, officials reported.
Rescuers continue to search the Hwaseong factory, located 28 miles south of Seoul, for one missing worker. Officials are uncertain if the worker was inside the building when the blaze started.
The fire left two workers hospitalized with severe injuries and caused minor injuries to six others.
Kim Jin-young, an official with the Hwaseong Fire Department, stated that 102 individuals were present in the factory, owned by battery manufacturer Aricell, at the time of the incident. Among the 22 fatalities were 18 Chinese migrants, one Laotian migrant, and two South Koreans.
The victims were discovered on the second floor of the 12,500-square-foot factory. Despite having two unlocked exit staircases, the workers were overwhelmed by flames and toxic smoke before they could escape, according to Mr. Kim.
Survivors reported that the fire began when a single battery cell ignited, leading to a series of explosions among the 35,000 lithium battery cells stored on the second floor, Mr. Kim explained.
Lithium battery fires can occur when internal layers compress, causing a short circuit. This compression can result from sudden impacts, like vehicle collisions, or gradual swelling during regular use.
Lithium’s ability to store significant energy in a compact space makes it a preferred battery material, but it also poses risks of intense heat and flames during short circuits. Lithium battery fires have increasingly become a concern worldwide, presenting significant challenges for battery manufacturers.
Aricell, the owner of the Hwaseong plant, produces batteries commonly used in electricity and utility networks.
The search for the missing worker was hindered by intense flames, toxic smoke, and the risk of further explosions. Television footage showed large flames and thick smoke billowing from the factory. Post-fire images revealed a scorched building with a collapsed roof.
Over 160 firefighters and 60 fire engines responded to the blaze. President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the government to “mobilize all available human resources and equipment.”
This fire is the deadliest in South Korea since a 2020 construction site fire southeast of Seoul claimed 38 lives.
Despite its advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities, South Korea has a history of man-made disasters, including fires.
In 2018, nearly 50 people, mostly elderly patients, died from toxic smoke in a hospital fire lacking sprinklers. In 2017, 29 people perished in a gym and public bath complex fire. In 2008, a fire at an under-construction cold-storage warehouse killed 40 workers, including migrant labourers.
