22 dead in horrific South Korea factory disaster

Devastating pictures have shown the aftermath of a factory fire that has rocked a major city to its core.

Firefighters have found at least 22 bodies at the site of a massive fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea.

One firefighter told the local Yonhap news agency that they had managed to put out the largest fire at the site and were pulling bodies out of the wrecked building, which is in the city of Hwaseong in the country’s north-west.

Over 100 people were working when number of explosions boomed from the second floor.

The battery plant is owned by Aricell, a South Korean battery manufacturer and no cause for the fire has yet been determined.

“We are still unable to go inside and carry out rescue operation. We will carry it out once we get the fire under control,” firefighter Kim Jin-young said.

“Twenty-one workers are unaccounted for now. We are planning to track their whereabouts with their contacts provided from the company.:

One person was killed, and another had sustained serious burns.

South Korean firefighters have found at least 20 bodies at the site of a massive fire at a lithium battery factory in Hwaseong.

One person was killed, and another had sustained serious burns.

Dozens of fire engines were seen outside as emergency services rushed to find survivors.

Images shared by local news outlets showed huge clouds of grey smoke coating sky above the factory as flames continued to rage inside the building.

Dozens of fire engines were seen outside as emergency services rushed to find survivors.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has issued emergency instructions to authorities, telling them to “mobilise all available personnel and equipment to focus on searching for and rescuing people”.

The president also warned authorities that they should “ensure the safety of fire fighters considering the rapid spread of fire”.

South Korea is a major producer of batteries, including those used in electric vehicles, with its major battery companies supplying EV makers around the world, including Tesla.

More to come.