Córdoba professor dies after cell phone explosion ignites car

María Lucila Pagani, a 47‑year‑old professor at the National University of Córdoba, died after a lithium‑ion cellphone battery exploded while charging inside a Renault Sandero on the E‑53 highway near kilometer 14. The blast caused a fire that forced the driver to lose control and crash into a storm drain. Pagani was hospitalized in critical condition at the Instituto del Quemado with severe burns and respiratory injuries before succumbing to her injuries.

The incident drew attention to the dangers of faulty battery packs. Experts cited the need for original chargers, avoiding high temperatures, and replacing swollen or damaged batteries to prevent thermal runaway events similar to the one that killed Pagani.