Daijiworld Media Network - Seoul
Seoul, Mar 21: At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured after a massive fire broke out at a car parts manufacturing plant in Daejeon, officials said, as rescue teams continued efforts to trace four missing workers.
According to South Korea’s Interior Ministry, the blaze has so far claimed 10 lives, while 59 persons sustained injuries. Of them, 25 are reported to be in critical condition, with others suffering minor injuries.
Authorities said four workers remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that the death toll could rise as search operations continue.
Several workers were reportedly injured after jumping from the building to escape the flames, while others suffered due to smoke inhalation. Visuals from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from complex as emergency responders battled the blaze.
The fire reportedly broke out around 1:00 pm local time when nearly 170 workers were present at the facility. Witnesses spoke of a possible explosion, following which the fire spread rapidly through the building.
Local reports said one body was recovered from the second floor, while the remaining victims were found on the third floor. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Rescue operations were initially hampered due to fears of a structural collapse. The presence of hazardous materials, including around 200 kilograms of sodium and other reactive chemicals, further complicated firefighting efforts.
Emergency teams deployed advanced equipment such as firefighting robots and unmanned systems to cool the structure and enable safe search operations. Over 500 personnel, along with multiple vehicles and aircraft, were mobilised to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby units.
Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung has directed authorities to deploy all available resources to support rescue and relief operations.
Search efforts for the missing workers continued into Saturday, with teams proceeding cautiously after conducting safety inspections of the damaged structure.