A fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, has killed at least 14 people and injured almost 60 others. Firefighters confirmed that all missing personnel are now accounted for after a search of the three-storey building. The blaze, which broke out on Friday afternoon, was not extinguished until Saturday afternoon local time.
Video footage apparently showed workers jumping from the first floor to escape the rapidly spreading fire. Local fire chief Nam Deuk-woo told the New York Times that the fire spread so quickly that by the time firefighters arrived, workers had already started jumping from windows. About 170 workers are believed to have been inside when the fire was reported.
Firefighting efforts were initially hampered by fears the building might collapse and by the presence of sodium at the site, which can explode when mixed with water. More than 200kg of highly reactive chemicals had to be removed before water could be applied. Over 500 emergency personnel and two unmanned firefighting robots were deployed, with cranes used to spray water on the steel-framed structure.
Casualties included those suffering smoke inhalation and injuries from jumping. Nine of the 14 victims were reportedly found in a third-floor space used as a gym locker room. Some of the dead were so badly burned that DNA tests were required for identification, according to the New York Times.
Officials are still investigating the cause, though a witness told Yonhap news agency they heard an explosion. The fire is the deadliest at a South Korean factory since 23 workers died at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong in 2024, an incident that led to a 15-year prison sentence for the CEO of battery maker Aricell. President Lee Jae Myung has called for better protection for workers, citing official statistics that more than 10,000 died at work between 2000 and 2024.
The factory is owned by Anjun Industrial, which makes engine valves and counts Hyundai and Kia among its customers, according to its website. In a statement, CEO Sohn Ju-hwan said the company would fully cooperate with authorities, investigate the cause, review safety systems and inspections, and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
