At Least 17 Chinese Killed in Korean Lithium Battery Plant Fire

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

What’s new: Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming has urged the authorities in Seoul to find out as soon as possible the cause of Monday’s fire at a local lithium battery factory, which has killed at least 22 people, most of them Chinese nationals.

The blaze broke out around 10:30 a.m. at battery-maker Aricell’s three-story plant in Hwaseong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

At least 22 people, mostly Chinese nationals, died in a fire at Aricell’s lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, South Korea.
17 Chinese nationals, one Laotian, and one still missing; eight others injured, including one Chinese national.
Aricell produces lithium thionyl chloride batteries, which are generally considered low-risk in terms of production safety.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Aricell: Aricell is a battery manufacturer that primarily produces lithium thionyl chloride batteries, which are non-rechargeable and typically used in sensors, smart meters, and ETC devices. The company operates a three-story plant in Hwaseong, South Korea, where a recent fire broke out, causing significant fatalities and injuries.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

2024-06-24：: A fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. at battery-maker Aricell’s three-story plant in Hwaseong.

Early Tuesday, 2024-06-25：: China’s embassy in Seoul published a statement that at least 17 Chinese nationals were among the dead based on preliminary assessments.