Whoa! 🔥 A massive fire broke out at Tata Electronics' plant in Tamil Nadu, India, over the weekend, bringing iPhone component production to a screeching halt. 😱
Officials say the plant—which crafts critical back panels and other parts for Apple's iPhones—is suspending operations indefinitely as they assess the damage and prevent any further mishaps.
\"We've stationed fire engines at the plant because there's a chance of more fire incidents or smoke when we remove the fallen sheds,\" M. Velu, the district fire officer, told Reuters over the phone. \"We have not yet figured out what caused the blaze.\"
Thankfully, only 10 people suffered minor injuries, but the plant is \"very badly burnt and there was absolutely no visibility inside,\" according to senior health official Shilpa Prabhakar Satish. \"The structure was falling; the roof was falling. No one could even go inside.\"
This incident is a major setback for Apple 🍎 as it looks to expand its footprint in India—seen as a key growth market and manufacturing hub. The same complex was gearing up to start iPhone assembly later this year, but it's unclear how the fire will affect those plans.
Tata Electronics, part of the mega $165 billion Tata Group, is a big player in Apple's supply chain in India. They've assured everyone that emergency protocols kept employees safe, and they're investigating the cause of the fire.
Stay tuned for updates on this fiery situation! 🔥
Reference(s):
Tata iPhone component plant halts production indefinitely after fire
cgtn.com
