Apple's Production Halted at Tata Electronics Plant in India following Fire

Production at a Tata Electronics facility in Tamil Nadu has been suspended indefinitely following a fire that broke out early Saturday, according to officials.

The plant, which produces iPhone components, has been severely impacted, with 10 individuals sustaining minor injuries.

"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," M. Velu, a district fire officer, said in a phone interview with Reuters.

"We have not yet ascertained the cause of the fire," Velu added.

The fire is the latest disruption to Apple’s iPhone supply chain in India, just as the company seeks to reduce its dependence on China and increase production in India, a critical growth market.

Neither Apple nor Tata has commented extensively on the fire.

Tata confirmed that the cause of the fire is under investigation, and that emergency protocols were followed to ensure employee safety.

Rescue teams continued to clear debris on Monday, but inspections have been delayed due to the extent of the damage.

The facility manufactures essential back panels and other components for iPhones.

Additionally, a nearby building in the same complex is slated to begin iPhone assembly by the end of the year, but its status remains unclear following the fire.

District Collector K. M. Sarayu posted images on X, formerly known as Twitter, after visiting the site on Sunday, showing the plant's burnt structure and machinery covered in soot.

Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, a senior health official, who also visited the plant, described the scene: "It was very badly burnt, and there was absolutely no visibility inside."

"The structure was falling, the roof was falling. No one could even go inside," she added.

Tata Electronics, part of the $165 billion Tata Group, is one of Apple’s key suppliers in India, alongside Taiwan’s Foxconn.