16 Dead, 6 Missing After Fire at South Korean Lithium Battery Plant

At least 16 people were killed, and six others remain unaccounted for after a fire broke out at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, on Monday. The blaze started at around 10:30 a.m. local time at the Aricell plant, a manufacturer of lithium batteries.

Local fire officials reported that 16 bodies have been recovered from the factory. Four workers were also injured, with two in critical condition. Among the missing, most are foreigners, including Chinese nationals. The final death toll is expected to rise, as Korean news agency Yonhap reported that 20 bodies have been recovered so far, citing firefighters on the scene.

The fire burned for more than four hours before being brought under control at approximately 3:10 p.m. local time. According to local authorities, the fire began after some battery cells exploded in the factory’s warehouse, where 35,000 units were stored. The exact cause of the explosions is still under investigation.

Aricell, the battery manufacturer involved, produces lithium batteries used in utility metering devices, medical devices, and military equipment. The company is majority-owned by South Korean metal processing firm S-Connect. Following news of the fire, S-Connect’s shares, listed in Korea, plummeted sharply, closing 22.5% down on Monday.

Lithium batteries are widely used to power electric vehicles and nearly all modern personal electronic devices like phones and laptops. Despite safety features, these batteries can catch fire or explode when exposed to high temperatures, physical damage, or overcharging. Fires caused by lithium batteries burn at intense temperatures, and the use of water can exacerbate the blaze. South Korean fire authorities used dry sand instead of water to extinguish the fire on Monday.

South Korea is a major global producer of lithium-ion batteries, although its production capacity is still significantly behind that of China.