Samsung store catches fire day before Galaxy S8 launch
A Samsung store has caught fire in Singapore just a day before the company is due to unveil its new flagship smartphone.
The South Korean conglomerate can’t seem to catch a break as it tries to shake off the controversy over its exploding products and factories.
Samsung losses to exceed $5bn over #Note7 failure https://t.co/uYaceXAE8Mpic.twitter.com/jrMwXVVlOw
— RT (@RT_com) October 14, 2016
The company was forced to recall its Galaxy Note7 phones late last year after worldwide reports of the device overheating and exploding, and also faced legal action after some models of their washing machines reportedly exploded.
Just last month, one of the factories that manufactured the faulty Note7 batteries caught fire in China.
READ MORE: US officially bans Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones from air transportation
This most recent fiery incident to strike Samsung happened Tuesday at a storeroom of the Samsung Experience Store in the AMK Hub Singapore, Channel News Asia reports.
Fire at Samsung outlet in AMK Hub forces temporary closure of neighboring stores https://t.co/WMQ8Lnravwpic.twitter.com/xzuhP4nE8l
— MSN Singapore (@MSN_Singapore) March 28, 2017
The blaze caused surrounding stores in the mall to temporarily shut and the Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched two fire engines to the scene.
The fire in the shop's storeroom was quickly extinguished by the mall's sprinkler system and a water jet. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
Samsung is due to reveal its Galaxy S8 at Lincoln Center in New York at 11 am local time tomorrow.
READ MORE: Samsung reveals plans to sell refurbished Galaxy Note7s
The company announced on Monday that it will sell some refurbished Galaxy Note7 devices. It did not specify where they would retail, but said, “applicability is dependent on consultations with regulatory authorities and carriers as well as due consideration of local demand”.