South Korean officials have confirmed that 14 individuals lost their lives in a catastrophic explosion and fire at an auto parts factory located in the central city of Daejeon. The incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon, also resulted in injuries to at least 59 people, with rescue workers recovering the remains from the charred wreckage on Saturday.
Rescue Efforts and Casualty Details
Fire officials reported that 25 of the injured were in serious condition, though it remains unclear how many faced life-threatening situations. More than 500 firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel were mobilized to contain the blaze and conduct extensive rescue operations after the fire broke out at approximately 1:18 p.m. local time on Friday.
Scene of the Tragedy
Videos and photos from the scene depicted thick gray smoke billowing from the industrial complex, with some workers seen jumping from a building belonging to Anjun Industrial to escape the flames. Nam Deuk-woo, the fire chief of Daejeon's Daedeok district, stated that the fire destroyed a factory building that firefighters initially could not enter due to fears of structural collapse.
Searches for missing workers commenced late Friday after officials deployed unmanned firefighting robots to cool the structure and performed a safety inspection. Among the 14 deceased, nine were discovered in what is believed to have been a gym on the third floor, while three were found near a water tank on the second floor. All missing individuals have now been accounted for.
Response and Investigation
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited the site on Saturday afternoon, meeting with relatives of the victims and urging safety measures to prevent the damaged structure from collapsing during ongoing search operations. The cause of the fire is not immediately known, but witnesses reported an explosion, and the blaze appeared to spread rapidly.
Firefighters focused their efforts on preventing the fire from spreading to an adjacent facility and isolating explosive chemicals. Workers recovered more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals from the site. Injuries included those from jumping to escape and smoke inhalation.
Medical and Operational Impact
As of Saturday morning, 28 people were hospitalized, with four undergoing surgeries for broken bones and other injuries. The rescue operation involved approximately 120 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including aircraft, an unmanned water cannon vehicle, and two firefighting robots designed for hard-to-reach areas, alongside hundreds of personnel.
