Electric wheelchair battery explodes at Ulsan apartment, burns resident in 70s

A battery in an electric wheelchair exploded inside an apartment in Ulsan on Tuesday, injuring a resident in their 70s.

The blast occurred at around 1:47 p.m. Tuesday inside a unit at an apartment complex in Maegok-dong, Buk-gu, Ulsan, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The resident, identified only as A, suffered second-degree burns to the knees and hands and was taken to a hospital.

The fire went out on its own immediately after the explosion. Fire department crews arrived to find the blaze already extinguished.

Fire authorities believe the accident occurred while A was charging the electric wheelchair inside the home. The exact cause of the explosion and the full extent of the damage are under investigation.