Video Shows Large Amount of Smoke Touching the Sky After Massive Fire at Lithium Battery Plant in South Korea: 22 Killed

A devastating fire at a South Korean lithium battery factory has claimed the lives of 22 people, including 18 Chinese nationals, marking one of the country’s most tragic industrial disasters in recent years. 

The blaze, which erupted at the Aricell plant in Hwaseong city, just south of Seoul, resulted in a massive cloud of smoke and a series of explosions that created a chaotic and deadly scene.

Over 100 workers were present at the factory when the fire broke out. 

Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions from the second floor, where lithium-ion batteries were being inspected and packaged. 

Massive explosion in South Korea after a Lithium battery factory exploded.

At least 16 fatalities, 6 people missing after a fire broke out at the factory in Seoul before it exploded into a huge fireball.

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The fire spread rapidly, fueled by the highly flammable batteries stored in the facility. 

Firefighter Kim Jin-young, speaking to the media, confirmed that 22 people, including 20 foreign nationals, perished in the blaze. 

Among the foreign victims were 18 Chinese nationals, one person from Laos, and another of unknown nationality. 

The identification of the victims has been challenging due to the severe burns on many of the bodies.

Firefighters faced significant challenges in controlling the fire due to the nature of lithium batteries, which burn intensely and are difficult to extinguish with conventional methods. 

“Due to fears of additional explosions, it was difficult to enter,” Kim said. 

Instead of water, which can exacerbate lithium fires, firefighters used dry sand to manage the flames. 

Despite their efforts, one person remains unaccounted for. 

Firefighters are conducting cooling operations to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby factories. 

Images shared by Yonhap News and other outlets show enormous plumes of gray smoke billowing into the sky, with orange flames visible inside the building. 

The Aricell factory, owned by S-connect, contained an estimated 35,000 battery cells on the second floor alone. 

This vast stockpile contributed to the intensity of the fire and the difficulty in controlling it. 

The company’s shares plummeted by over 20 percent on the Seoul exchange following the incident.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued emergency instructions to authorities, urging them to mobilize all available personnel and equipment for rescue operations. 

He also emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of firefighters, given the rapid and unpredictable spread of the fire.

Local authorities in Hwaseong sent out urgent alerts to residents, advising them to stay indoors and avoid the area due to the heavy smoke. 

"There is a lot of smoke due to factory fires. Please pay attention to safety, such as refraining from going out," one alert read. 

Another advised residents to close their windows and avoid surrounding roads.

South Korea is a major global producer of lithium batteries, which are used in a wide range of products from laptops to electric vehicles. 

This incident highlights the potential dangers associated with the production and storage of these powerful energy sources.

The fire at the Aricell plant is one of the worst industrial disasters in South Korea in recent years. 

It surpasses the 1989 chemical plant accident at Lucky Chemical factory in Yeosu, which resulted in 16 deaths and 17 injuries. 

More recently, a fire at a warehouse in Icheon in 2020 claimed 38 lives.

As investigations continue into the cause of the fire, the tragedy at the Aricell factory underscores the need for stringent safety measures in industries dealing with highly flammable materials. 

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks associated with the rapid advancement and mass production of technology.