This photo taken on June 24, 2024 shows the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea247poker. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10247poker:31 a.m.local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Several Chinese nationals died in South Korea's battery plant fire Monday, but the death toll had yet to be confirmed, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea.

Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured after the fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT).

Kim Jin-young, a local fire station official, said in a televised briefing that rescue workers retrieved the bodies of the 21 missing factory workers who had failed to be reached after the fire outbreak.

The victims were believed to have failed to escape through stairs to the ground.

Ahead of the search operation inside the ill-fated plant, one worker died after having been found in cardiac arrest.

Of the dead, 20 workers were estimated to be foreigners, Kim noted.

Two others were seriously wounded, while six suffered minor injuries such as smoke inhalation.■

Rescuers introduce the rescue work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

This photo taken on June 24, 2024 shows the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescuers introduce the rescue work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescuers introduce the rescue work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescue vehicles head to the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

This photo taken on June 24, 2024 shows the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea. Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured in South Korea's battery plant fire on Monday, according to the fire authorities. The fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescuers work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Several Chinese nationals died in South Korea's battery plant fire Monday, but the death toll had yet to be confirmed, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea.

Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured after the fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescuers work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Several Chinese nationals died in South Korea's battery plant fire Monday, but the death toll had yet to be confirmed, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea.

Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured after the fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (C) inspects the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Several Chinese nationals died in South Korea's battery plant fire Monday, but the death toll had yet to be confirmed, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea.

Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured after the fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

Rescuers work at the battery plant fire site in Hwaseong, South Korea, June 24, 2024. Several Chinese nationals died in South Korea's battery plant fire Monday, but the death toll had yet to be confirmed, according to the Chinese embassy in South Korea.

Twenty-two people were confirmed dead and eight others were injured after the fire broke out at a primary battery plant in Hwaseong, around 45 km south of the capital Seoul, at about 10:31 a.m. local time (0131 GMT). (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)