On June 24th, a major fire broke out at the lithium battery factory of Aricell, a South Korean battery manufacturer located in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. The incident resulted in a tragic loss of lives, with the death toll reaching 23 people as of the latest update on June 25th.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the site of the fire on the same day and called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. Authorities have been working diligently to identify the victims and determine the reasons behind the blaze.
Authorities reported that among the deceased, there were 5 South Korean nationals, 17 Chinese nationals, and 1 Laotian national. However, only the identities of 2 South Korean victims have been confirmed so far, despite earlier media reports stating that 19 Chinese citizens were among the casualties.
The fire, which erupted in the factory’s third building where over 35,000 lithium batteries were stored, quickly engulfed the premises in dense smoke, leaving workers there potentially unconscious within seconds, as firefighters indicated according to Reuters.
Aricell’s CEO, Park Soon-kwan, expressed deep condolences to the affected workers and issued an apology for the tragic incident. He assured the public of the company’s full cooperation with the investigation to uncover the root cause of the fire and prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, along with Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, visited the scene of the fire to assess the situation and instructed the fire department to conduct a thorough inquiry into the fire’s origin.
During a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo emphasized the importance of emergency safety inspections carried out by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Industry, and the National Fire Agency to mitigate any potential risks promptly.
The Korean government has pledged to provide funeral services for the victims and offer government assistance to their families while officials and families of the deceased gathered at a funeral home on the day of the incident to discuss funeral arrangements and memorial services for the deceased workers.
A labor ministry official informed Reuters that an investigation is underway to determine if Aricell complied with safety regulations, especially regarding adequate safety training for temporary foreign workers. The official, who requested anonymity, stated that criminal charges may be brought against Aricell if violations are found.
This tragic fire ranks among one of the most severe accidents in South Korea in recent years, underscoring the ongoing challenges the country faces in improving workplace safety standards to prevent the loss of lives in industrial accidents despite continuous efforts to enhance safety measures in manufacturing facilities.