Photo : KBS
At least one person has been killed and three others injured after a fire broke out at a lithium battery production plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
According to fire authorities, a man in his sixties died from cardiac arrest after the fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, while two others were seriously injured and another person sustained minor injuries.
While firefighters continue efforts to put out the flames, authorities believe at least 19 people are still inside the plant. A fire official was quoted as saying that the number of casualties could rise as many remain unaccounted for.
The cause of the fire at the three-story concrete steel building is currently unknown.
Authorities proactively issued a Level Two alert requiring up to seven fire stations to mobilize a maximum 50 units of fire fighting equipment.
The Hwaseong city government, meanwhile, sent out disaster alert texts to local residents, urging them to refrain from outdoor activities due to the possible release of toxic substances from the fire.