▲ Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming visits the site of a fire at a primary lithium battery factory in Hwaseong, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on June 24, 2024. (Yonhap)

Chinese envoy-fire site

Chinese ambassador 'deeply saddened' by loss of Chinese nationals in fire

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming said Tuesday he is "deeply saddened" by the loss of 17 Chinese nationals in a battery plant fire in Hwaseong the previous day.

Xing's comments were posted on the Chinese Embassy's social media account a day after he visited the fire site in the city 45 kilometers south of Seoul.

"I express my condolences to the victims and sincerely offer words of comfort to the bereaved family members and those injured," he said.

Xing said his embassy is working with South Korean authorities to handle the aftermath and has requested South Korea provide all necessary assistance to the Chinese victims' families, including a swift determination of the fire's cause.

"In particular, I am deeply saddened that unfortunately many Chinese nationals lost their lives," he said. "I hope that relevant South Korean companies will learn a painful lesson so that such accidents do not happen again, and that they will firmly guarantee the lives, health and safety of Chinese nationals in South Korea."

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