Exploded Lithium Batteries Kill 22 at South Korea Factory

Facts

• At least 22 people reportedly died Monday in a factory fire near Seoul, South Korea. The fire was caused by multiple exploding lithium batteries that are frequently used in laptops and electric vehicles.¹
• The fire broke out at 10:31 a.m. (local time) at battery maker Aricell's Hwaseong factory, 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Seoul, killing two Koreans and 20 foreign nationals, the majority of whom were Chinese.²
• Media reports said eight people were injured in the incident that left several missing at the warehouse that stored around 35K units of battery cells. Officials expect the death toll to rise.³
• The blaze was so intense that the building's roof caved in. In addition to the flames, rescue work was also hampered by toxic fumes and a risk of additional explosions.⁴
• Aricell, which was reportedly founded in 2020, makes batteries for sensors and radios. It's majority-owned by S-Connect, which is listed on South Korea's stock market.⁵
• South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited the factory and extended government help in the funeral services for the dead and assistance to family members.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²CNN, ³Independent, ⁴New York Times, ⁵Reuters and ⁶Washington Post.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Interesting Engineering. Lithium batteries, common in many devices today, pose significant fire risks and the potential for injuries, fatalities, and disruption if proper safety measures aren't taken. Improper disposal can lead to contamination and severe hazards. Awareness and safe handling are crucial to preventing tragedies like the one South Korea has endured.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Autopian. This tragedy must not set off another wave of scaremongering about lithium batteries. While they pose fire risks if improperly handled, shunning them or the end products that use them would be misguided. Misinformed claims often overlook the fact that lithium batteries are ubiquitous and generally safe. Instead, more refined occupational health and safety solutions should be found without resorting to a fear-driven hampering of their evolution.

Predictions