Horror as 20 workers are burned alive in massive blaze at lithium battery factory in South Korea

The bodies of around 20 workers have been found at a South Korean lithium battery factory after a massive blaze, local media reports, with firefighters saying they were still searching the building.

Horrifying pictures show a huge column of smoke and flames rising high into the sky as the inferno ripped through the plant in Hwaseong, just south of the capital Seoul.

Over 100 people were working in the factory when workers heard a series of explosions from the second floor, where lithium-ion batteries are inspected and packaged, firefighter Kim Jin-young told media.

Some 78 people were confirmed safe but many more were still missing, with Yonhap saying that 'about 20 bodies (were) found' at the site, after rescue workers finally managed to get inside.

Kim told media that they had managed to put out the largest fire at the factory and were pulling bodies out of the charred building. 'A rescue team has gone inside and is carrying out search and rescue operations,' he said.

Black smoke billowed from the vast factory after the blaze broke out on Monday morning

Smoke and flames can be seen rising into the sky above the factory in Hwaseong, South Korea

Firefighters work at the site of a burnt lithium battery manufacturing factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, Monday, June 24, 2024

A firefighter searches for missing people inside the lithium battery manufacturing factory 

The building was completely gutted by the huge blaze, which firefighters struggled to put out

The blaze raged for hours, starting at around 10.30am and only brought under control by fire crews just after 3pm - at which time they were finally able to enter the building to start recovering bodies.

Dozens of fire engines were at the scene. A fire department official earlier said, 'Currently, the fire is so strong that rescuers and extinguishers cannot go in to extinguish the fire and conduct search and rescue operations.

'After the fire is extinguished, we plan to send in rescue teams to search for people.' 

The vast 2,300 square metre factory had an estimated 35,000 battery cells on the second floor in storage at the time of the blaze, with more batteries stored in other areas.

Lithium batteries burn hot and fast, and are difficult to control with conventional fire extinguishing methods.

'Due to fears of additional explosions, it was difficult to enter,' Kim said.

'As it is a lithium battery manufacturer, we determined that spraying water will not extinguish the fire, so we are currently using dry sand,' he added.

The lithium battery plant is owned by Aricell, a South Korean primary battery manufacturer.

Emergency personnel move the body of a person killed in a deadly fire at a lithium battery factory

Firefighters retrieve the bodies of workers at the site after eventually getting the blaze under control

Lithium batteries are used in everything from laptops to electric vehicles - but can be highly explosive, with airlines, for example, imposing strict regulations on checking devices containing them.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol issued emergency instructions to authorities, telling them to 'mobilise all available personnel and equipment to focus on searching for and rescuing people,' his office said.

The president also warned authorities that they should 'ensure the safety of firefighters considering the rapid spread of fire'.

Firefighting and rescue efforts were ongoing, and the cause of the fire was unknown.

Dozens of fire engines were at the scene of the blaze. The cause of the fire was unknown

Firefighters try to put out a fire at a primary lithium battery factory in Hwaseong

Authorities in Hwaseong sent out a series of alerts to residents warning them to stay inside.

'There is a lot of smoke due to factory fires. Please pay attention to safety, such as refraining from going out,' one alert sent by text message said.

'Factory fire. Please detour to surrounding roads and nearby citizens please close windows,' another one read.

South Korea is a major producer of batteries, including those used in electric vehicles. Its battery makers supply EV makers around the world, including Tesla.

South Korea is also one of the world's largest producers of high-end semiconductors, and the government has invested heavily in key technologies including displays and batteries.