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Lithium battery plant fire in South Korea kills at least 22
A fire at a lithium battery plant in South Korea has killed at least 22 people and injured eight.
South Korean authorities said on Monday that they had recovered 22 bodies from the factory in Hwaseong, 45km (28 miles) south of Seoul, after earlier confirming that at least 16 workers had died in the blaze and three others were injured.
Eighteen Chinese workers and one Laotian were among the dead. The nationality of the remaining deceased worker was not yet confirmed, fire official Kim Jin-young said, citing information from company officials.
The fire broke out at the plant operated by South Korean battery maker Aricell at about 10:30am (01:30 GMT), before being brought under control shortly after 3pm (06:00 GMT), authorities said.
Firefighter Kim Jin-young earlier in the day told local media that more than 100 workers were believed to have been working at the site at the time of the fire and that some two dozen were unaccounted for.
Kim said the fire started when a number of battery cells exploded inside a warehouse.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office said he had ordered authorities to mobilise all available personnel and equipment “to focus on searching for and rescuing people”.
Authorities in Hwaseong issued a series of alerts advising the public to stay indoors and close their windows due to smoke from the blaze.
Lithium batteries, which are used in phones, laptops and electric vehicles, have been known to explode or catch fire due to a phenomenon known as thermal run, which can occur when they overheat or are punctured.
South Korea is a leading exporter of lithium batteries, hosting top industry players such as LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On.
[Aljazeera]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) in the Special Grade of Sri Lanka Engineering Service serving at present as the Additional Secretary (Water Resources Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to the post of Director General which will be vacant from 06.10.2026.
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 08.06.2026 to prepare a draft bill for restructuring Sri Lanka Cricket.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated Sri Lanka draft bill providing legal provisions for the administration of Sri
Lanka Cricket, control, regulation, promotion, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for the development and administration, through the concepts of better governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and providing equal opportunities for the betterment of the cricket sport, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for securing the wellbeing of all participants and securing cricket from corruption and other mal practices.
Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said draft bill. Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received for the resolution furnished by the Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Latest News
Appointment of Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Organization of 79th Independence Day Commemoration
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Council, and Local Government to appoint a Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by the Prime Minister and with the participation of relevant Ministers, to organize and direct the affairs of the country’s 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Ceremony, which falls on 2027-02-04.
A Joint Regional Initiative to Ensure the Digital Safety of Children
PM meets with IMF delegation
Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) appointed Director General of Irrigation
Sri Lanka Cricket Draft Bill to be gazetted
Cabinet approves purchase of machinery for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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