Fire at South Korean Lithium Battery Plant Kills 23

A devastating fire at the Aricell lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, on June 24 resulted in the deaths of 23 workers, primarily Chinese migrants, and injured eight others. The blaze, which started on the second floor where over 35,000 lithium batteries were stored, erupted following a series of explosions and rapidly engulfed the area. The fire emitted toxic fumes, likely causing the swift fatalities of the workers, many of whom were daily laborers unfamiliar with the building's layout. South Korean authorities have shut down the factory and launched an investigation into possible safety violations, with three company officials being probed. President Yoon Suk-yeol and other officials have visited the site, promising government assistance and preventive measures to avoid future incidents. This incident is one of South Korea's deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.