A FIRE in a factory near South Korea’s capital Seoul today killed 22 people, most of who were Chinese migrant workers, and injured eight people.

The blaze began after lithium batteries exploded while workers were examining and packaging them on the second floor of the factory in Hwaseong city at 10.30am, fire officials said, citing a witness.

They said they would investigate the cause of the blaze at the factory owned by Aricell, and whether fire extinguishing systems were at the site and if they worked.