Casualties Reported in Fire at Hwaseong Arisel Factory
Yoon Receives 1-Hour Situation Report from Minister of the Interior and Safety
On the 24th, firefighters and paramedics are recovering bodies at the scene of a fire at a primary battery manufacturing factory located in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 24th instructed to "mobilize all available personnel and equipment to fully focus on search and rescue operations" following a fire at a primary battery factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, which resulted in multiple casualties.
After receiving the news of the Hwaseong fire, President Yoon gave these instructions to Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and the Fire Agency Chief, according to Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.
President Yoon urged, "Considering the rapid spread of the fire, please ensure the utmost safety of the firefighters."
Later, the president received a report on the fire's cause and the situation at the site from Minister Lee for about an hour.
According to fire authorities, the fire broke out around 10:31 a.m. at Arisell, a primary battery manufacturing company located in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
As of 5 p.m. that day, the total number of deaths was 16. One person was found in cardiac arrest, and 15 were initially reported missing but later found deceased during search operations by fire authorities.
The government has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) and is making every effort in search and rescue operations. Fire authorities are currently conducting search operations for six missing persons presumed to still be inside the factory.
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