Mercedes-Benz EQS Explosion Hospitalizes 23
An explosion of a Mercedes-Benz EQE electric vehicle in an underground parking lot in Incheon, South Korea, led to a fire that damaged over 100 nearby cars and released toxic smoke into the building above. The incident, captured on CCTV, resulted in 23 people being hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The spontaneous fire lead to a massive blaze that damaged 140 cars and disrupted power to nearly 500 households. The fire, which was not caused by charging, spread toxic smoke throughout the building, forcing the evacuation of 209 residents and hospitalizing 23 people, including 20 residents and seven children. Emergency responders, numbering 177 with 80 pieces of equipment, took eight hours to control the fire.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion. Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle may have been involved in a collision prior to the incident, potentially damaging its battery and leading to overheating. Mercedes-Benz has expressed deep regret over the situation and is cooperating with authorities to ascertain the specifics of the incident.
Mercedes-Benz Korea issued a statement saying it is collaborating with fire authorities to determine the cause of the blaze involving an EQE vehicle. Local police and fire departments have launched an investigation, with some speculating that a previous crash may have compromised the car's power pack.
The Korean-spec EQE uses a different battery from its North American counterpart, sourced from Chinese Farasis Energy. EV fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish, often requiring large amounts of water, and there are concerns that firefighters may not be fully prepared for such incidents.
