A fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, has killed 14 people and injured nearly 60 others. Firefighters confirmed that all missing persons have been accounted for after searching the three-storey building.
Video footage showed people jumping from the first floor to escape the blaze. Local fire chief Nam Deuk-woo told the New York Times that the fire spread so rapidly that workers were already jumping out of windows by the time firefighters arrived.
About 170 workers were inside when the fire was reported on Friday afternoon. It was not extinguished until Saturday afternoon. Firefighters faced delays due to fears of collapse and the presence of sodium, which can explode when mixed with water. More than 200kg of reactive chemicals were removed from the site.
Plumes of black smoke rose from the steel-framed building as fire crews used cranes to spray water. Over 500 firefighters, police, and emergency personnel, along with two unmanned firefighting robots, were deployed. Injuries included smoke inhalation and injuries from jumping. Nine of the 14 victims were found in a third-floor gym locker room.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a witness reported hearing an explosion. It is the deadliest factory fire since 23 workers died at a lithium battery plant in 2024. President Lee Jae Myung has called for better worker protection.
The factory, owned by Anjun Industrial, makes engine valves for Hyundai and Kia. CEO Sohn Ju-hwan pledged full cooperation with authorities, a review of safety systems, and measures to prevent recurrence.
