At least one person is dead while 21 others are “missing” after a large fire broke out at a lithium battery factory in South Korea on Monday as the blaze continued, authorities said.
The lithium battery plant, owned by a South Korean primary battery manufacturer, is located in Hwaseong, just south of the capital Seoul. AFP reported.
“We can't go in and carry out the rescue operation yet. We will carry it out once we get the fire under control,” firefighter Kim Jin-young told media.
“Twenty-one workers are missing at the moment. We are planning to trace their whereabouts with the contacts provided by the company,” Kim added.
One person died and another suffered serious burns, he added.
Images shared by Yonhap The news agency showed huge plumes of gray smoke rising into the sky above the factory, with orange flames inside the building. Dozens of fire trucks were seen outside.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued emergency instructions to authorities, telling them to “mobilize all available personnel and equipment to focus on searching and rescuing people,” his office said.
He also warned authorities that they should “ensure the safety of firefighters taking into account the rapid spread of the fire.”
Firefighting and rescue efforts were underway, but the cause of the fire is unknown.
South Korea is a major producer of batteries, including those used in electric vehicles. Its battery makers supply electric vehicle makers around the world, including Elon Musk's Tesla.
