A lithium battery warehouse has exploded in France, sending plumes of thick black toxic smoke into the air, visible for miles around.
The explosion at the facility triggered a huge fire, with an estimated 70 firefighters deployed to the scene to tackle the blaze.
The warehouse, located in the town of Viviez, Aveyron, was used to store old lithium batteries waiting to be recycled.
Lithium batteries are used in smartphones, laptop computers, electric scooters, trucks, and cars.
The fire in France comes amid growing fears over the dangers of lithium batteries which are highly flammable and burn at extremely hot temperatures.
Locals in Viviez were ordered to keep their doors and windows closed as the thick toxic smoke engulfed the town.
No injuries or deaths have yet been reported by authorities.
The cause of the explosion and resulting fire has yet to be confirmed.
WATCH:
Some 900 tons of lithium batteries were on fire at a battery recycling plant in southern France, authorities said on February 18 sending a cloud of thick black smoke into the sky above the site
They can’t handle 5% of share which goes for recycling rest 95% goes for landfills pic.twitter.com/SErOkOkNj1— ഡേവിന്ദർ ആനന്ദ് D K ANAND 🐅 (@DAVINDERANAND3) February 19, 2024
The fire in France has once again raised questions about the use and safety of the batteries.
Jean-Louis Denoit, the mayor of Viviez, called the fire “shocking.”
He told French news outlet BFMTV:
“There is indeed reason to ask questions about the function of electric vehicles and lithium batteries.”
Last December, a cargo ship carrying lithium-ion batteries was burning as it reached Alaska.
The 19-strong crew managed to make it to shore with no injuries reported, according to the US Coast Guard.
The Genius Star XI was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific Ocean, from Vietnam to San Diego when the cargo caught on fire, the guard’s Alaska district said in a release.
The fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1, a spokesperson for ship owner Wisdom Marine Group said at the time.
The crew worked quickly to release carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it over to avoid a potential explosion.
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