At least 11 people were killed and three remain missing after a fire swept through an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, on Friday, officials said. An interior ministry official responsible for fires and disasters told AFP that 11 people died, 25 were seriously injured and 34 suffered less severe injuries. Three workers were still missing.
The blaze began around 1:00 p.m. (0400 GMT) and spread rapidly through the facility, sending thick gray smoke into the sky. About 170 employees were inside at the time. Images from the scene showed people jumping from upper floors to escape the flames, and witnesses reported an explosion; the precise cause has not been established, Daedeok District fire chief Nam Deuk-woo said.
Firefighters were unable to enter some parts of the building because of collapse risks, so crews prioritized preventing the fire from spreading to nearby facilities and removing hazardous chemicals stored on site. Officials said roughly 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of highly reactive substances were kept at the factory; Yonhap reported the site stored sodium, which can explode if mishandled. Injuries included smoke inhalation and trauma from people who jumped to escape.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered full mobilization of personnel and equipment for rescue operations. More than 500 emergency responders and around 120 vehicles were deployed, including evacuation aircraft, an unmanned water-cannon vehicle and firefighting robots designed for hazardous areas. The robots were used to cool the structure and conduct safety inspections, allowing teams to resume searches for missing workers late on Friday.
Nam said one set of remains was found on the second floor and nine more were recovered in what is believed to have been a third-floor gym. By Saturday morning, rescuers had searched all accessible areas of the plant; officials said the remaining missing persons were likely trapped beneath collapsed rubble. The fire was reported extinguished by Saturday afternoon.