Lithium Battery Fire Causes Disruption of Systems Including Mobile Identification
'Caution' Level Crisis Alert Issued, Crisis Response Headquarters Activated
Firefighting Efforts Underway... Lithium Battery Fires Difficult to Extinguish
A fire broke out at the Daejeon National Information Resources Service, where the communication systems of the government and public institutions are concentrated. As a large-scale disruption of government IT services occurred, the government issued a 'Caution' level crisis alert and activated the 'Crisis Response Headquarters.'
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency on September 26, a lithium battery fire occurred at around 8:20 p.m. on the fifth floor of the National Information Resources Service in Hwaam-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
The National Information Resources Service is a facility where the IT systems of public institutions are centralized. Due to the fire, a total of 70 systems were affected, including 12 first-class systems such as mobile identification and 58 second-class systems, resulting in service interruptions. Access to the websites of central government ministries and the government email system is also currently unavailable.
After the fire broke out, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held an emergency situation assessment meeting presided over by Minister Yun Ho-jung, and then issued a 'Caution' level crisis alert. Following the issuance of the 'Caution' alert, the 'Crisis Response Headquarters' was activated. The government also decided to provide accurate information to the public through guidance messages to minimize inconvenience and to respond according to the business continuity plan.
The information systems affected by the fire include the National Petition Portal and the mobile government employee ID system. For systems experiencing disruptions, notifications will be provided through guidance pages, messages, or alerts. However, the nationwide 119 emergency call, dispatch, and response systems are operating normally. Some features, such as the video reporting system and the emergency medical smart system, are experiencing disruptions. The location information inquiry system has been switched to the joint response center of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and emergency measures have been completed.
Firefighters dispatched to the scene are currently carrying out ventilation to remove smoke and are working to extinguish the fire. So far, one man in his 40s has been reported injured, suffering first-degree burns to his face and arm. Approximately 100 people evacuated the National Information Resources Service on their own due to the fire.
Typically, lithium-ion battery fires are caused by a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. Thermal runaway occurs when the battery is damaged and the anode and cathode come into direct contact, causing the temperature to rise to as high as 1,000 degrees Celsius in a short period of time. Once a lithium-ion battery catches fire, it is difficult to extinguish, and even if the fire appears to be out, it can reignite.
In particular, the fire can continue until the chemical reactions inside the battery are complete, so extinguishing efforts can take a long time. Initially, the fire authorities attempted to suppress the fire using carbon dioxide extinguishers due to concerns over data loss, but when the flames reignited, they ultimately decided to use water.
Meanwhile, the National Information Resources Service is a facility where the IT systems of public institutions are centralized. Due to the fire, a total of 70 systems were affected, including 12 first-class systems such as mobile identification and 58 second-class systems, resulting in service interruptions. Access to the websites of central government ministries and the government email system is also currently unavailable.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
