A fire broke out in a Mercedes electric car in a parking lot in Incheon, South Korea, resulting in 21 injuries and the destruction of 70 cars. Firefighters took 8 hours to extinguish the blaze, which filled the residential complex with black smoke.

The incident occurred at 6:15 a.m. on the first underground floor of the apartment complex. Surveillance cameras captured the fire, showing the electric vehicle emitting white smoke while parked and not charging, likely due to the battery mounted underneath. Moments later, the EQE burst into flames, which then spread to nearby vehicles.

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According to the Incheon Fire Department, 177 emergency responders and 80 pieces of equipment were deployed to the scene. Local media reported that it took 8 hours to put out the fire. Electric vehicle fires are known for being challenging to control, although they occur less frequently than fires in fuel-powered vehicles.

Due to the heavy smoke, 209 residents had to evacuate their apartments, with about half being rescued by firefighters from stairs and balconies. Twenty residents, including seven infants and children under ten years old, were hospitalized after inhaling smoke, along with one firefighter.

A spokesperson from the local Mercedes-Benz branch spoke to Korea JoongAng Daily about the incident: “We cannot confirm details about the specific model and batteries at this time. We are taking this matter very seriously and will do our utmost to cooperate with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause.”

The police and fire department have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Experts speculate that the electric vehicle might have been involved in a collision before the incident, which could have damaged the battery and led to overheating. While Mercedes has not confirmed this, the EQE sedan uses a 90.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack sourced from CATL.

The fire reportedly damaged around 70 nearby vehicles and sent black smoke billowing into the sky. The complex, which includes 1,581 apartments in 14 buildings, prompted 197 emergency calls to the fire department.