The cause of a massive blaze that killed 23 in one of the country’s worst factory disasters in years is being sight by South Korean investigators at a lithium factory Tuesday.
According to fire department, their initial figure of those dead was eighteen, including seventeen Chinese but following their ID work; they put the number at twenty three.
Firefighter Kim Jin-young told reporters that “We plan to confirm the victims’ identities by collecting DNA from their bodies.”
Investigators entered the building as part of government’s formal investigation on Tuesday involving ministries and departments across the complete board, to determine what exactly caused the fire.
While there were more than a hundred people present in the factory where workers are said to have heard series of explosions coming from second floor where lithium-ion batteries were being inspected and packaged.
White smoke filled this area less than 20 seconds CCTV footage from entrance of factory building shows as people raced out, according to Yonhap news agency.
Fire department has stated that toxic fumes likely quickly overwhelmed workers around where fire broke out and also noted that since it was a lithium fire, workers would not have been able to put it off.
Aricell’s CEO Park Soon-kwan apologized for the fire during which he said his company would “support the needs in every way” of those affected families on Tuesday morning.
He further added that his company will collaborate with investigators since there were dry-powder fire extinguishers all over the premises and staffs went through safety training drills repeatedly.
Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming visited late Monday night and described it as an “unfortunate and heartbreaking” event but also had “a good conversation with Korean government” about how similar accidents can be prevent from happening again.
The chairman wants this lesson to serve as caution for South Korean firms not behave like this anymore so as not only protect life but also property rights of Chinese citizens in Korea. “It is hope that South Korean businesses will learn a painful lesson, refrain from similar incidents in the future, and earnestly safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens in South Korea,” he said.
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol who visited Monday night ordered relevant authorities to inspect factories with similarities in chemical management and “take necessary measures to prevent such accidents from happening again.”
Lithium batteries burn hot and fast and are difficult to control with conventional fire extinguishing methods.
South Korea is a major producer of batteries, including those used in electric vehicles.
