Deadly South Korean Lithium Battery Plant Fire Highlights Safety Lapses

A fire at South Korean battery maker Aricell in June killed 23 people and injured nine. The incident occurred as the company hurried to meet production deadlines, ignoring quality issues. Police reported these findings, but Aricell has not responded to requests for comment.

A fire at a South Korean lithium battery maker in June that killed 23 people occurred as the company raced to produce batteries to meet a deadline without taking action to address signs of dangerous quality failures, police said on Friday.

Nine other workers were injured in the fire at battery maker Aricell, majority-owned by S-Connect. Calls to Aricell seeking comment following the police announcement went unanswered.

Emergency responders said the fire, which erupted amidst the company's rush to meet deadlines, underlined significant oversight failures. Investigations revealed that evident quality issues were overlooked, contributing to the catastrophe. Regulatory and company spokespersons have yet to provide further details on long-term safety measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)