Production at a Tata Electronics plant in southern India, a key supplier for Apple iPhones, has been suspended indefinitely following a fire over the weekend, officials confirmed on Monday. The fire occurred early Saturday at the Tamil Nadu facility, resulting in extensive damage and minor injuries to 10 workers.
“We have stationed fire engines at the plant as there are chances of a follow-up fire incident or smoke coming off when the sheds that had fallen during the accident are removed,” district fire officer M. Velu told Reuters. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Tata Electronics, a major Apple supplier in India, is investigating the cause of the blaze. The plant manufactures key components such as back panels for iPhones. Another building in the complex is expected to begin iPhone assembly by the end of the year, but its status following the fire remains unclear.
Rescue teams continued to clear debris on Monday, with officials facing challenges in inspecting the damage. Health official Shilpa Prabhakar Satish described the site as “very badly burnt,” with structures collapsing inside.
Tata Electronics, part of the $165 billion Tata Group, joins Taiwan’s Foxconn as a primary Apple supplier in India, as Apple looks to expand its supply chain outside China.
