AT LEAST 20 people have been killed after a horror fire ripped through a South Korean lithium battery factory.
Harrowing footage shows thick plumes of smoke billowing through the sky as the fire engulfs the burning building with more than 20 workers still “unaccounted for”.
The deadly fire is thought to have started after a series of highly flammable battery cells exploded inside the warehouse.
Local fire official Kim Jin-young said that up to 35,000 units were inside the factory at the time of the blast at 10:30am (local time) on Monday morning.
He told local media: “We are still unable to go inside and carry out rescue operation. We will carry it out once we get the fire under control.
“Twenty-one workers are unaccounted for now. We are planning to track their whereabouts with their contacts provided from the company.”
Initial reports say 20 bodies have been recovered by emergency specialists.
At least four others have been left hospitalised with two in a critical condition, Kim announced at a briefing.
Dozens of fire engines were seen rushing to the factory to contain the flames moments after the first blast.
Shocking pictures show the burnt out roof of the factory left charred and collapsing in on itself.
Falling debris can also be seen piling up on the roads below the battery factory as it continues to crumble.
South Korea‘s President Yoon Suk Yeol told emergency services to “mobilise all available personnel and equipment to focus on searching for and rescuing people”.
The lithium battery plant is owned by Aricell, a South Korean manufacturer and is located in Hwaseong, south of the capital Seoul.
Over 67 employees were inside the building when the first explosions erupted, say South Korean media.
Investigations into the fire are ongoing.
It comes just days after a residential tower block was engulfed by an inferno in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana.
Eight people, including a child, were forced to evacuate the blazing tower as 72 firefighters and 16 pieces of equipment were at the scene trying to rescue those trapped inside.
