Management teams at office buildings and apartment complexes across South Korea are considering measures to reduce fire risk after an explosion in an electric vehicle (EV) led to the evacuation of more than 200 families.
An unplugged electric Mercedes-Benz sedan caught fire last Thursday in an underground parking garage at an apartment complex in Incheon, west of Seoul, fire officials said. More than 700 residents were evacuated due to water and power outages and the fire damaged about 140 cars, the Incheon Metropolitan City government said. Twenty-three people were hospitalized.
Several office buildings have now banned electric cars from entering and parking, according to reports on social media. Some apartment complex managers also advise owners of electric cars to be careful when charging their cars.
