South Korea factory fire: Battery firm apologises for deadly blaze, says it complied with safety rules

The chief executive officer (CEO) of SouthKorean lithium battery manufacturer Aricell apologised on Tuesday (June 25) following a massive factory fire that killed more than 20 workers. The fire at the factory producedthick smoke that spread quickly and the workers inside the second-floor location likely lost consciousness and succumbed within seconds.

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On Tuesday, firefighters with search dogs combed the gutted factory and found the last personwho had been unaccounted for, raising the death toll to 23, a report by the news agency Reuters said.

Seventeen of those who died were Chinese, and one Laotian was also among those killed. Most of the workers were hired temporarily at the plant.

'Will ensure to prevent repeat of such accident'

Addressing a press conference, Aricell CEOPark Soon-kwan offered condolences to the workers who were killed and apologised to everyone who had been affected by the accident.

"We will be conscientiously taking part in the investigation by authorities and will do our best to determine the cause of the accident and to take measures to prevent a repeat of such an accident," Park told reporters.

He added that Aricellhad fully complied with safety procedures and training, but some of the 103 workers at the factory, including some of those killed, were contract workers dispatched by a manpower company.

Concerns mount over workplace safety

Monday's incident was the latest industrial accident in South Koreawhere dozens of manufacturing workers lose their lives on the job each year despite repeated calls to improve workplace safety.

At a cabinet meeting, Prime MinisterHan Duck-soo said, "I ask the ministries of labour and industry and the National Fire Agency to conduct an urgent safety inspection and, where there is concern of an accident, take immediate measures."

(With inputs from agencies)