S.KOREA BATTERY PLANT FIRE KILLS ONE WORKER, 21 STILL TRAPPED

SEOUL, June 24 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- A fire broke out at a primary battery manufacturing plant south of Seoul on Monday, leaving at least one worker dead and three others injured, according to firefighters cited by Yonhap.

The blaze started at lithium battery maker Aricell's plant in Hwaseong, 45 kilometres south of Seoul, at around 10.30 am local time. Firefighting efforts were ongoing as of early afternoon.

The deceased worker was taken to a hospital after suffering cardiac arrest, while another was seriously injured and two sustained minor injuries, according to the firefighters. At least 21 others are believed to be still trapped inside the plant.

The fire reportedly started for unknown reasons at the three-storey reinforced concrete building, which has a total floor space of about 2,300 square metres.

Firefighters are reportedly having difficulties in completely putting out the blaze as burning lithium batteries are difficult to handle with conventional fire extinguishing methods.

One witness, who escaped from the second floor of the plant, told the Hwaseong Fire Station that an explosive combustion occurred in one battery cell at the time of the fire.

The fire station stated that the fire spread rapidly as the battery cells inside exploded continuously, hampering search and rescue operations inside the plant. At least 35,000 batteries are believed to be housed inside the plant.

It said about 67 workers were on duty on Monday, and currently, 21 people remain unaccounted for and out of contact, with fears there will be more casualties.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP