At least 11 people were killed and three remain missing after a fire ripped through an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, on Friday, officials said.
An interior ministry official who handles fires and disasters told AFP that 11 are dead and 25 are seriously injured. He added that 34 people were injured but not in serious condition and three 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 workers were inside at the time, and images from the scene showed some people jumping from upper floors to flee the flames. Witnesses reported an explosion, though the exact cause was not immediately known, said Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of Daedeok District.
Firefighters could not enter parts of the building because of fears it might collapse, so crews focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby facilities and removing hazardous chemicals. Officials said roughly 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals were stored at the site. Yonhap reported the factory stored sodium, which can explode if mishandled. Some injured people suffered smoke inhalation, while others were hurt after jumping from the building.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered the full mobilization of personnel and equipment to support rescue efforts. More than 500 emergency personnel and about 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 carry out safety inspections, enabling searches for missing workers late on Friday.
One set of remains was found on the second floor and nine more were discovered in what is believed to have been a gym on the third floor, Nam said. 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 extinguished by Saturday afternoon.
Edited by: Kieran Burke