Deadly Factory Fire in South Korea Claims 22 Lives, Mostly Chinese Migrant Workers

Seoul/Panjab Post
A devastating fire, believed to have been triggered by exploding lithium batteries, tore through a manufacturing facility near South Korea’s capital on Monday, claiming the lives of 22 individuals, predominantly Chinese migrant workers, officials reported.
The blaze erupted during a routine inspection and packaging of batteries on the factory’s second floor in Hwaseong city, south of Seoul, around 10:30 am local time, according to fire authorities citing eyewitness accounts. Investigators have launched a probe into the incident to determine its exact cause.
Among the deceased were 18 Chinese nationals, two South Koreans, and one individual from Laos, confirmed local fire official Kim Jin-young during a televised briefing. The nationality of one victim remains unverified pending further identification efforts.
In recent decades, a significant number of Chinese nationals, including ethnic Koreans, have migrated to South Korea seeking job opportunities. Many end up in labor-intensive roles in factories or other sectors typically avoided by more affluent South Koreans and workers from Southeast Asia.
Kim also noted that one worker remains unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue scouring the site. Of the eight individuals injured in the blaze, two are reportedly in critical condition.
The fire originated in one of the factory buildings operated by Aricell, a company yet to comment on the incident. Authorities are investigating whether adequate fire suppression systems were in place and functional at the time of the fire.
Kim disclosed that 102 individuals were employed at the factory prior to the fire’s outbreak, underscoring the tragic toll of the incident on the local and migrant worker community.