Andhra Pradesh launches investigation into fire at Apple supplier Foxlink Factory

Andhra Pradesh has launched an investigation into the causes of a fire at Apple supplier Foxlink’s factory that caused part of the building to collapse and disrupt production, a government official said on Wednesday.

Andhra Pradesh has launched an investigation into the causes of a fire at Apple supplier Foxlink’s factory that caused part of the building to collapse and disrupt production, a government official said on Wednesday.

The Foxlink factory, which makes charging cables for iPhones in the southern state, was engulfed in a massive fire on Monday, but there were no casualties. The fire department said much of the plant’s fire safety equipment was not functional.

The Factories Department, responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of state workers, has launched an investigation.

The department is “investigating the fire at the Foxlink factory and over the next few days is investigating how the fire happened,” Ramakrishna Reddy, deputy chief inspector of factories, told Reuters.

Reddy added that his initial assessment was that there were no immediate worker safety concerns, as only a few employees had to be taken to hospital for first aid after reporting dizziness following the ‘incident.

Foxlink said Wednesday it was investigating the cause of the fire and “working hard to resume production.”

The incident raised concerns about the US tech giant Apple’s supply chain, given that Foxlink was a “key supplier” in India, Reuters reported.

© Thomson Reuters 2023