Probe after 2 cellphones catch fire

SEOUL: Samsung said yesterday it was investigating reports that two Galaxy Note 7 smartphones caught fire in China, where the company previously said all phones for sale were safe and didn’t need to be included in a global recall.

If confirmed, the reports would deepen Samsung Electronics’s growing woes with the problem-plagued smartphones.

It has already faced criticism that its recall policies have been confusing for consumers and left them uncertain about whether they should continue using their phones.

Samsung said it was investigating both reported cases in China, the world’s largest smartphone market.

A Chinese social media user posted messages on Sunday saying a friend’s Galaxy Note 7 caught fire over the weekend, and included photos of the damaged phone.

The user, contacted by phone, said the Note 7 was bought on September 1.

The man said the phone started to heat up and vibrate late on Saturday night, then exploded and emitted black smoke. – AP