South Korean news agency Yonhap reports that about 20 bodies have been found inside a lithium battery manufacturing plant after a blaze broke out in the factory on Monday.
The fire, which has largely been extinguished, occurred at about 10:30am at the factory run by battery manufacturer Aricell in Hwaseong, south of the capital Seoul.
“We are still unable to go inside and carry out [a] rescue operation,” firefighter Kim Jin-young told media.
“Twenty-one workers are unaccounted-for now.
“We are planning to track their whereabouts with their contacts provided from the company,” Mr Kim added.
A charred building with firefighters in yellow uniform outside.
“It is estimated that 67 people were working at the factory today, but the exact number of workers has not been determined,” he said.
Factory workers described an explosion in one battery cell on the second floor, followed by a series of explosions, Mr Kim said, according to ABC NEWS.
