A massive fire engulfed the Tata Electronics plant in southern India over the weekend, forcing an indefinite suspension of production of critical iPhone components. The incident has raised concerns as authorities scramble to prevent further damage and investigate the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out early on Saturday at the facility located in Tamil Nadu state, which manufactures back panels and other essential parts for Apple iPhones. Ten individuals suffered minor injuries during the incident.
“We have stationed fire engines at the plant as there are chances of a follow-up fire incident or smoke coming off when the sheds that had fallen during the accident are removed,” said M. Velu, a district fire officer, in a phone interview with Reuters.
Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire. District Collector K. M. Sarayu, who visited the site, posted photos showing extensive damage, with machinery and ceilings charred and covered in soot.
“The structure was falling; the roof was falling. No one could even go inside,” reported Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, a senior health official present at the scene.
Tata Electronics, part of the $165 billion Tata Group conglomerate, is a major supplier for Apple in India. The plant’s closure is the latest setback in Apple’s efforts to diversify its supply chain and expand its manufacturing footprint in India.
In the same complex, another building was slated to begin iPhone assembly before the end of the year. It remains unclear how this incident will impact those plans.
Apple has not commented on the situation, while Tata Electronics stated that an investigation is underway and that emergency protocols ensured employee safety.
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Tata iPhone component plant halts production indefinitely after fire
cgtn.com
