US regulators issue official recall of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phone

Safety regulators have recalled the device after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage

US safety regulators have announced a formal recall of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after a spate of fires led to injuries and property damage.

Samsung had already initiated a voluntary recall but the US consumer product safety commission chairman, Elliot Kaye, strongly criticised Samsung for not co-ordinating with his agency. "As a general matter it's not a recipe for a successful recall for a company to go out on its own," he said, adding that anyone who believes a unilateral effort would be sufficient "needs to have more than their phone checked".