A fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea kills at least eight people, while others are missing

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Fire officials say they have discovered eight dead bodies from a burned factory near Seoul.

Fire official Kim Jin-young said the bodies had been retrieved and taken to a hospital.

Yonhap news agency previously reported that twenty dead bodies had been discovered.

Kim previously said rescue efforts were underway at the Hwaseong factory, just south of Seoul.

Kim then told a television briefing that 23 people had been reported missing, including Chinese nationals.

South Korean media reported that about 67 people were working at the factory before the fire broke out.