Battery factory explosion kills one person, injures three in South Korea
21 January 2022
An explosion and fire at a battery factory in the southern city of Cheongju, South Korea killed one person and injured three others on January 21. The blaze broke out following a small explosion, officials said. The facility was evacuated, however one person remained trapped inside and died before they could be rescued by firefighters.
The incident happened at around 15:00 local time at a factory belonging to car battery manufacturer ECOPRO BM. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the factory had become engulfed in flames. Two people were rescued immediately from inside the building while another person remained trapped inside.
A total of 15 fire engines and 40 firefighters attended the scene to battle the fire, however their rescue efforts to save the trapped person were hampered due to thick black smoke coming from the fire. The person was later confirmed to have died.
Among the people injured, two people suffered minor injuries while another person was seriously wounded and taken to hospital.
Officials have opened an investigation to find the cause of the initial explosion.
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