Fire at Lithium-Battery Factory Kills at Least 22 in South Korea
The country’s president urges upgraded safety measures to address chemical-induced blazes
SEOUL—One of South Korea’s deadliest chemical fires led its president to call for improved industrial safety measures, after at least 22 people were killed at a lithium-battery factory.
Firefighters battled for hours to bring the blaze under control after it broke out Monday morning at a building in a factory complex in the city of Hwaseong, about 30 miles south of Seoul. Video of the fire showed smoke billowing from the factory, as well as explosions.
Lithium fires can be particularly challenging for firefighters to battle because
they are difficult to extinguish and release toxic gases.
Authorities haven’t determined the cause, but a single battery cell appeared to have caught fire, triggering a series of blasts, said Kim Jin-young, an official with the Hwaseong Fire Department. About 35,000 lithium-battery cells are believed to have been stored on the factory’s second floor, where workers had been carrying out battery-quality checks and packaging procedures, he said.
Of those who died, 20 were foreign workers, including 18 from China, one from Laos and one unidentified person, the fire department said. At least eight others were injured. One person was still missing late Monday.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the site of the fire on Monday evening, calling for a thorough investigation into the cause and comprehensive measures to deal with chemical-induced fires that are hard to extinguish using conventional methods. He also urged steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
The factory is owned by Aricell, a South Korean company that makes lithium batteries used mainly for running smart-grid electricity networks and military equipment. Aricell couldn’t be reached for comment.
The fire began at roughly 10:30 a.m. local time and was controlled by about 3 p.m. Monday. Firefighters said rescue operations were initially hampered by the risk of additional explosions.
The lithium batteries made at the Aricell factory differ from lithium-ion batteries, which are used in
a range of consumer products, such as electric vehicles, laptops and cellphones. Batteries such as the ones made at the Aricell factory are made using lithium metal and designed for one-time, prolonged use. Lithium-ion batteries, which use lithium compounds to facilitate the movement of lithium ions, are made to be rechargeable.
Lithium metal can store large amounts of energy, but can be highly explosive when exposed to air and moisture, making it critical that the production occurs in a strictly controlled environment, said Shin Dong-wook, a materials-science and engineering professor at South Korea’s Hanyang University. If the battery’s casing becomes damaged, the lithium can be exposed to air, causing an intense heat reaction that leads to a fire, he said.
Lithium-battery fires, mainly those involving lithium-ion batteries, have been a growing problem in the U.S. and around the world, and an issue that battery manufacturers across the industry have long grappled with.
Makers of batteries that use lithium metal usually take caution in the design and manufacturing process, said Shin. If made properly, the risk of an explosion should be reduced over time as the battery’s energy is drained. Lithium-ion batteries are at risk of causing a fire when being used or charged improperly, he said.
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