A devastating fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea claimed the lives of at least 22 individuals on Monday, the majority of whom were foreign nationals. The blaze erupted around 10:30 a.m. local time at the Aricell-operated facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
At least two people suffered serious burns, and five others had minor injuries, according to Kim Jin-young. The destruction of the factory’s worker directory hindered the identification process for victims. According to fire officials, the fire was likely triggered by exploding lithium batteries as workers were examining and packaging them on the factory’s second floor.
The fire, which produced multiple powerful explosions, raged out of control for nearly six hours before being largely extinguished. According to Hwaseong Fire Department official Kim Jin-young, the fire, which started in one of Aricell’s factory buildings, was brought under control by 3:10 p.m., allowing firefighters to enter the premises.
Among the 22 fatalities, 18 were Chinese nationals, two were South Koreans, and one was Laotian, while the nationality of one victim remains unconfirmed. The fire also resulted in injuries to seven people, with two suffering from second-degree burns.
Kim Jin-young noted that the blaze likely began with an explosion of lithium batteries at a workstation on the second floor. The victims were unable to escape via the stairs to the ground floor. Rescue workers recovered several burned bodies, with one person succumbing to cardiac arrest. Authorities are investigating the presence and functionality of fire extinguishing systems at the site, which housed an estimated 35,000 batteries in a three-story, reinforced concrete building spanning roughly 2,300 square meters.
The factory had 102 employees working at the time of the fire. Many Chinese, including ethnic Koreans and other Southeast Asian migrants, often take on physically demanding and low-paying jobs in South Korea’s factories.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the Interior and Safety Ministry and the head of the fire department to mobilize all available resources for rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min visited the site later on Monday. Han urged officials to provide government assistance for funeral services and support programs for the victims’ families. President Yoon, donning a safety helmet and mask, also inspected the scene alongside other officials. This incident marks one of the deadliest industrial fires in South Korea in recent years, reminiscent of past tragedies like the 2020 Icheon warehouse fire and the 2018 Miryang hospital fire.
South Korea’s efforts to improve safety standards have been ongoing, but incidents like these highlight persistent challenges. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min convened a meeting to focus on preventing further casualties and environmental damage.
The rapid spread of the fire, fueled by flammable battery materials, left little time for workers to escape. Aricell, established in 2020 and majority-owned by S-Connect, is known to use highly toxic materials, which likely contributed to the high death toll.
