Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 14 individuals from the destroyed remains of a car parts factory that caught fire. The tragic incident occurred in Daejeon, a central city, on Saturday. The factory experienced an explosion followed by a fire that left at least 59 individuals injured, according to reports. Fire officials have confirmed that 25 people sustained severe injuries, with the condition of some remaining uncertain.
More than 500 firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders were dispatched to manage the fire and conduct rescue operations after it broke out on Friday afternoon. Videos and images from the scene depict thick smoke emerging from the facility, with some workers seen jumping from a building owned by Anjun Industrial.
The fire chief of Daedeok district, Nam Deuk-woo, mentioned that the inferno destroyed a factory structure that was initially inaccessible to firefighters due to fears of collapse. Search efforts for the missing workers began after the deployment of unmanned firefighting robots to cool down the area and assess safety.
Out of the 14 deceased individuals, nine were found in a suspected gym on the third floor, while three were located near a water tank on the second floor. All missing persons have now been located. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited the site, meeting with victims’ families and calling for safety precautions to prevent further incidents during the search operations.
The fire, which started around 1:18 p.m. on Friday, had an unknown cause but appeared to spread quickly, with witnesses mentioning an explosion. Firefighters concentrated on containing the fire to prevent it from spreading and handling explosive substances on-site. Authorities recovered over 100 kilograms of reactive chemicals from the location.
Several individuals sustained injuries from jumping off the building to escape, while others suffered from smoke inhalation. By Saturday morning, 28 individuals were hospitalized, with four undergoing surgeries for various injuries. A significant deployment of vehicles, equipment, and personnel, including aircraft and firefighting robots, was mobilized to manage the situation effectively.