Twenty-two people are dead following an explosion at a battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, south of Seoul. Most of the workers were Chinese nationals, Reuters reports, citing local fire officials. Two workers are being treated for severe burns.

The fire reportedly began at the Aricell factory Monday morning and burned for over four hours before firefighters could get the blaze under control, Al Jazeera reports. The fire began at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET Sunday, which is 10:30 a.m. Monday in Korea. The building's roof has been damaged and parts of its upper level collapsed.

A firefighter estimated that about 100 people were working at the plant when the battery cell explosion occurred. Approximately 35,000 battery units were inside the factory.

South Korea's President, Yoon Suk-yeol, has reportedly asked authorities to continue to "focus on searching for and rescuing people."

Fire and Disaster Engineering Professor Kim Jae-ho tells Reuters that it was difficult for rescuers to get to the scene quickly enough because nickel and other battery materials are highly flammable.

Batteries can experience "thermal runway," a chain reaction that can result in battery explosions, but the exact reason for the Aricell explosion Monday has not yet been determined. Physical damage, product defects, or electrical damage can cause batteries to explode, according to the US National Fire Protection Association.

By: DocMemory
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