Hawseong, South Korea — In response to a fatal fire at a battery manufacturing facility, South Korean police and the Ministry of Labor conducted raids on the premises of Aricell and its workforce suppliers. The fire, which occurred on Monday in Hawseong, resulted in the deaths of 23 workers, primarily foreign nationals, and injured eight others.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the raid aims to investigate potential safety violations that may have contributed to what is considered one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent history. The labor ministry has also ordered a complete halt to operations at Aricell’s plant as the investigation continues. Three company officials have been detained under suspicion of breaching the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, facing potential legal repercussions pending the results of the ongoing thorough investigation.