A fire at a lithium battery manufacturing factory near South Korea’s capital has led to a tragic outcome, with officials confirming at least 16 fatalities, seven injuries, and six people still unaccounted for. The incident occurred in Hwaseong city, situated just south of Seoul.

Earlier report from Al Jazeera:

Local fire official Kim Jin-young shared that rescue workers recovered the bodies of the deceased individuals during the search efforts at the factory. Kim noted that most of the missing individuals, including foreign nationals like Chinese citizens, were last traced to the second floor of the facility.

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The fire was reported to have started after batteries exploded while workers were inspecting and packaging them. The exact cause of the explosion is under investigation. Unfortunately, those who lost their lives were unable to escape through the factory's stairways leading to the ground.

Before the fire, a total of 102 individuals were working at the factory. President Yoon Suk Yeol has directed officials to utilize all available resources to locate any potential survivors.

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