Mercedes-Benz Korea Ltd. on Friday expressed “deep regret” over a parking lot fire this week caused by an explosion of an electric vehicle.

The white EV sedan, which appeared to be of Mercedes-Benz’s EQE line, caught fire in an underground parking lot inside an apartment complex in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, on Thursday for unknown reasons before firefighters got the flames under control nearly five hours later.

Security camera footage showed smoke coming out of the car before it suddenly burst into flames. Sixteen residents, including seven children under the age of 10, were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. Some 70 cars inside the parking lot were reportedly damaged.

This footage from Yonhap News TV shows a Mercedes-Benz EV sedan exploding and bursting into flames. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

“We express our deep regret to the residents of the apartment complex and the surrounding area affected by the recent incident,” Mercedes-Benz Korea said in a statement sent to Yonhap News Age
ncy.

The company added that it takes the matter “very seriously” and expressed its commitment to cooperate fully with authorities to thoroughly examine the vehicle and determine the fundamental cause of the accident.

“As the investigation is still ongoing, we ask for your understanding that we cannot provide further details at this time,” the company said.

Mercedes-Benz Korea declined to comment when asked to identify the car model and details of its internal battery.

Source: Yonhap News Agency