Mercedes electric car burst into flames in an underground parking lot: 70 cars were affected, 21 people were taken to hospital

A Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan caught fire in an underground parking garage of a residential complex in South Korea, resulting in a major blaze. As a consequence of the fire, 70 other vehicles were damaged, and 21 individuals had to be hospitalized due to toxic smoke inhalation. Fortunately, the poisoning was not life-threatening.

The incident took place in Incheon, South Korea, and was captured on the parking garage's surveillance cameras. The footage shows the electric vehicle parked and not charging when it suddenly begins to emit white smoke. This smoke is likely coming from the battery located in the car’s floor. After a few seconds, the EQE ignites, and the flames subsequently spread to nearby vehicles.

According to the Incheon fire department, the fire erupted around 6:15 AM on the first basement level of the residential complex. A total of 177 rescuers and 80 units of equipment were deployed to the scene. Local media reports that extinguishing the blaze took 8 hours. It is known that fires involving electric vehicles are challenging to combat, although they occur less frequently than those involving internal combustion engine vehicles.

Due to the heavy smoke, a total of 209 residents were forced to evacuate their apartments. Firefighters rescued nearly half of them from stairwells and balconies. Twenty residents, including seven infants and children under the age of 10, suffered from smoke inhalation. They were transported to the hospital along with one firefighter who was also affected by the toxic smoke.

Authorities and firefighters have begun an investigation into the cause of the fire. The local Mercedes-Benz dealership stated that it is cooperating with the fire department to determine the cause of the incident. Experts suggest that the electric vehicle may have been involved in an accident prior to the parking incident. As a result of the accident, the battery could have been damaged, leading to overheating. While Mercedes has yet to provide information about the specific model and battery of this electric vehicle, the EQE sedan uses a 90.6 kWh lithium-ion battery from CATL.

Source: carscoops