Asia Tech Wire (Aug 1) -- A fire broke out in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon, South Korea, at around 6 a.m. on Thursday due to a Mercedes-Benz electric car that spontaneously combusted.

The local fire department sent nearly 200 firefighters and 80 firefighting vehicles to the scene to extinguish the fire, which was brought under control at around 12 noon.

According to surveillance at the scene, a white Mercedes-Benz electric car suddenly emitted thick smoke before exploding, sparking the fire.

More than 100 residents in the apartment complex were evacuated after the fire broke out, with 16 of them sent to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening treatment due to smoke inhalation.

According to the fire department, the fire caused various degrees of damage to more than 70 cars in the parking lot.

The Korean police and fire department said they will investigate the cause of the fire and the damage caused based on the surveillance of the apartment complex.