CHENNAI, INDIA – Apple supplier Pegatron has temporarily halted iPhone assembly at its facility in south India after a fire on Sunday night.
The Taiwanese firm has called off all shifts for the day at the factory near the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, and is yet to inform assembly workers whether the facility will function on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
Pegatron told Reuters in a statement that "there was a spark incident" at the facility that is currently under control, and the incident "does not have significant financial or operational impact" for the company.
A local official with the emergency responses department said multiple fire engines from various stations had to be brought in to douse the fire, taking nearly five hours.
"There are no injuries, no casualties, nor damage to other assets. The cause of (the) accident is currently under investigations by (the) relevant authority," Pegatron said.
Local media reported late Monday the fire led to black smoke covering the nearby area, with footage showing security guards trying to clear a crowd that had gathered near the entrance of the facility.
Pegatron accounts for 10% of Apple's iPhone production in India, according to research firm Counterpoint. The company, which started iPhone assembly in India in September last year, is also in talks to open a second Indian contract facility for Apple near the existing one in Tamil Nadu.