Moment lithium batteries explode, causing deadly factory fire

Authorities in South Korea have released footage of the explosion which caused a deadly factory fire at the Aricell plant in Hwaseong city, south of the capital Seoul.

In the footage, a stack of lithium batteries can be seen smoking, then exploding and bursting into flames. Workers can be seen hurrying to move the smoking batteries, before attempting to extinguish the resulting fire but being forced back by the explosions.

23 people were killed in Monday’s fire, the majority of whom were Chinese nationals, while several workers were seriously injured. It remains unclear what triggered the initial explosions, according to fire officials.