Panasonic Recalls 300,000 Batteries Over Tablet, PC Fire Risk

Panasonic is recalling more than 300,000 rechargeable battery packs used for tablets and laptops in Japan and overseas due to concerns they may catch fire, the company said Thursday.

The electronics giant is recalling more than 107,000 rechargeable battery packs for tablet PCs sold to corporate customers overseas, and almost 208,000 packs for its "Let's Note" laptop computers due to safety concerns.

A company statement said: "The batteries are being recalled due to a rare possibility of overheating or igniting due to a manufacturing condition."

Since August, there have been four cases of fire involving Panasonic battery packs that had yet to be recalled, in Japan and London, according to Kyodo News Agency.

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One person sustained minor injuries in a case registered in Tokyo, the article said, citing Panasonic.

The company originally issued a domestic recall for around 43,000 battery packs for its "Let's Note" laptop computers in May but this figure has now surged.

Panasonic has issued a recall for the CF-H2 tablet, sold to overseas customers, because its rechargeable packs use the same battery cells as the "Let's Note" laptops.