Firefighters struggled to control a massive fire at Tata Electronics’ facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday, which halted production at the major plant supplying components for Apple’s iPhones, according to sources familiar with the matter. While there have been no reported casualties, the full extent of the fire’s impact on production remains unclear.
The fire broke out near a building where complete smartphones were soon to be manufactured, raising concerns over possible disruptions to operations. Tata Electronics, a key contract manufacturer of iPhones alongside Foxconn in India, stated they were investigating the cause of the blaze and were committed to ensuring the safety of their employees and stakeholders.
“There has been an unfortunate incident of fire,” a Tata Electronics spokesperson said. “Our emergency protocols at the plant ensured that all employees are safe.”
A senior fire services official reported the collapse of a building at the plant but confirmed there were no casualties. J. Saravanan, a district official overseeing industrial safety, added that due to the damage, firefighters could not enter the premises immediately. “It will take one day for it to cool down,” he said, while authorities are continuing to investigate the cause.
Operations at the plant have been halted, and employees were sent home. Initial reports suggest the fire originated in a chemical storage area. An industry insider revealed that the affected building produced iPhone components, though the extent of the damage to a neighboring building slated for smartphone production by year’s end remains uncertain.
Apple has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident. Firefighters continue efforts to extinguish the blaze, but a full damage assessment will only be possible once the site becomes accessible.
