Latest news Report: Around 20 dead in factory fire in South Korea

According to media reports, rescue workers have found the bodies of around 20 people following a major fire in a factory for the production of lithium batteries in South Korea. Rescue workers discovered them in the affected building in the city of Hwaseong, south of Seoul, South Korean broadcasters and the national news agency Yonhap reported on Monday, citing the fire department. Initially, 23 people were thought to be missing. Most of them were foreign workers. It is feared that the number of victims could rise further.

The fire had trapped numerous workers in the multi-storey factory building. It was initially unclear how many of them were affected. Rescue workers had tried to reach them after the fire broke out. At least one person was initially reported dead.

Several people were also injured. South Korean television showed flames and thick clouds of smoke coming out of the building. There had been several small explosions in the burning building. The fire broke out in the morning for an initially unknown reason.