Authorities in Tamil Nadu are investigating a fire that broke out on September 28th at a former Pegatron factory that supplies iPhone components in Hosur, India. The plant is now owned by Tata Electronics and is temporarily closed.
Reuters reports that company officials say the fire began in an area used to store chemicals. While the fire was completely extinguished, two workers were hospitalized during the incident due to fumes. Those workers have since been released.
Authorities say it is “unlikely” that the plant will reopen before the end of the month. Tata Electronics officials are investigating the cause of the fire, and say they will take steps to safeguard employees.
A forensics team from the state capital of Chennai will also conduct an investigation. The report says it is not yet clear whether the fire damaged any of the surrounding buildings in the Tata complex. One of the other buildings in the complex is expected to begin assembling iPhone by the end of 2024.
News of the fire comes as Apple is attempting to reduce its reliance on China as an assembler of iPhones and other products. The Cupertino firm has opened plants in India and Vietnam as part of that initiative.
In September 2023, a similar fire occurred in Pegatron’s iPhone assembly plant located in Chennai, India. Pegatron halted production lines for iPhones at its Chennai plant, after a “fire incident.” Pegatron said the fire was caused by a “spark incident” that didn’t cause injuries, and that the fire did not have any “financial or operational impact” on the company
Reuters has reported that it isn’t yet clear if the fire damaged any surrounding buildings in the Tata complex. One of the other buildings is said to start iPhone assembly duties by the end of 2024.