A fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, has killed 14 people and injured almost 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 rapidly spreading blaze.
Local fire chief Nam Deuk-woo told the New York Times that the fire spread so quickly that workers had already begun jumping out of windows by the time firefighters arrived. Approximately 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 building collapse and the presence of sodium, which can explode when mixed with water. More than 200kg of highly reactive chemicals were removed from the site. Over 500 emergency personnel and two unmanned firefighting robots were deployed.
Nine of the 14 victims were found inside a third-floor gym locker room. Some bodies were so badly burned that DNA tests were required for identification. A witness reported hearing an explosion before the fire, though the cause is still under investigation.
The factory is owned by Anjun Industrial, a supplier of engine valves to Hyundai and Kia. CEO Sohn Ju-hwan pledged full cooperation with authorities and a review of safety systems. This is the deadliest factory fire since 23 workers died at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong in 2024.
