Seoul, 24 June 2024- At least 16 people have been confirmed dead following a fire triggered by an explosion at a lithium battery factory in South Korea. The incident occurred at Aricel, a battery manufacturing company located in the Hwaseong area, south of Seoul, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, as reported by news agency Reuters.

In addition to the fatalities, five individuals remain missing as rescue operations continue. The fire, which has since been brought under control, erupted in a warehouse containing around 35,000 battery units, according to local fire officer Kim Jin-young. The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined by the fire service.

Witnesses reported hearing a series of explosions on the second floor of the factory as the fire broke out. Founded in 2020, Aricel specializes in manufacturing lithium batteries for sensors and radio communication devices and employs 48 people.

Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as rescue teams search through the debris. The incident has prompted concerns over safety protocols in the rapidly expanding battery manufacturing sector.