In one of the worst factory fires in a long time, North Korean investigators searched the burned-out wreckage of a lithium factory on Tuesday to determine the source of the massive blaze that claimed the lives of 23 people.
The fire department said 23 individuals are then confirmed dead, including 17 Foreign nationals, one fewer than their initial number of 18, with identifying work continued.
By prying DNA from the bodies, firefighter Kim Jin-young told reporters,” We plan to confirm the victims ‘ identities.”
Investigators entered the building on Tuesday, the government’s official inspection began, with the involvement of ministries and departments from across the table. The investigation focused on the precise cause of the fire.
Over 100 employees were at the stock when they heard a number of blasts from the second floor, where lithium-ion batteries were being checked and packaged.
White dust is seen in less than 20 hours as people leave the area, according to Yonhap media organization from surveillance footage taken from the factory building’s entrance.
According to the fire department, toxic fumes were likely quickly absorbed by workers in the area where the fire started, adding that since it was a lithium fire, the efforts of the workers would n’t have been successful.
Park Shortly- lee, CEO of Aricell, the owner of the sodium power plant, apologised on Tuesday for the fire, saying the company do” help the needs in every way” of the families of the victims.
He stated that the business may engage with the authorities, adding that it had regularly conducted employee health training drills and had distributed dry-powder fire extinguishers throughout the building.
Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to Seoul, visited the site of the fire later Monday, calling it an “unfortunate and heartbreaking”, tragedy, but saying he “had a good chat with the Asian state” on preventing any reoccurrence.
He added,” It is hoped that South Korean firms will learn a agonizing lesson, refrain from similar situations in the future, and sincerely guard the safety of Chinese people in South Korea.”
Yoon Suk Yeol, president of South Korea, even made a late-Monday visit to the crisis site and instructed authorities to examine nearby chemical factories and get “measures to avoid such incidents from happening again.”
Lithium chargers burn quickly and warm, and are challenging to control using traditional fire extinguishers.
South Korea is a major developer of batteries, including those used in electric cars.
