At least 55 people were injured on Friday after a fire tore through an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, officials said, as emergency crews raced to locate more than a dozen people believed to be trapped inside.
The blaze started at about 1:00 p.m. (0400 GMT) and spread quickly through the facility, sending thick gray smoke into the sky. Its cause was not immediately known, said Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of Daedeok District, though witnesses reported an explosion at the site. Images from the scene showed workers leaping from upper floors to escape the flames.
Nam said 14 people believed to have been inside the factory had not yet been located, and police were tracking mobile phone signals in an effort to find them.
The factory stored roughly 200 kilograms (about 440 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals, officials said. Firefighters were unable to enter parts of the building because of concerns the structure might collapse, so crews concentrated on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby facilities and on removing hazardous substances.
Some of the injured suffered smoke inhalation, while others were hurt after jumping from the building to escape the blaze, Nam added.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered a full mobilization of personnel and equipment to support rescue operations. More than 500 emergency workers and roughly 120 vehicles were deployed, including evacuation aircraft, an unmanned water cannon vehicle and firefighting robots designed to operate in dangerous, contaminated areas.
Rescue and containment efforts were ongoing as authorities worked to account for the missing and bring the fire under control.
Edited by: Kieran Burke