Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 14 individuals from the charred remains of a factory that produces auto parts. This tragic incident occurred in the city of Daejeon on Saturday. The factory experienced an explosion followed by a fire that left at least 59 individuals injured, according to reports.
Authorities have confirmed that 25 people sustained severe injuries, although it is not yet clear if any are in critical condition. More than 500 firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders were mobilized to contain the fire and conduct rescue operations after it broke out on Friday afternoon.
Images and videos from the scene depict thick smoke rising from the facility, with some workers seen jumping from a building owned by Anjun Industrial. Nam Deuk-woo, the fire chief of Daedeok district, mentioned that the fire destroyed a factory building that was initially inaccessible to firefighters due to concerns about its structural integrity.
Search efforts for missing workers began on Friday evening after utilizing unmanned firefighting robots to cool the premises and perform safety checks. Of the 14 deceased individuals, nine were found in a presumed gym on the third floor, while three were located near a water tank on the second floor. The search operation confirmed the whereabouts of all the missing individuals.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited the site on Saturday afternoon, meeting with families of the victims and emphasizing the need for safety precautions to prevent further structural collapse during search and recovery operations.
The fire was first reported at around 1:18 p.m. on Friday. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but witnesses reported a rapid spread of the fire, possibly due to an initial explosion. Firefighters concentrated on containing the fire to prevent it from spreading to nearby facilities and securing hazardous chemicals on site.
Several individuals sustained injuries while attempting to escape the building, with others suffering from smoke inhalation. As of Saturday morning, 28 people were hospitalized, including four who underwent surgeries for various injuries. A significant deployment of vehicles, equipment, and personnel, including firefighting robots and aircraft, was coordinated to manage the situation effectively.
