At least 11 people were killed and three others are still missing after a fire erupted at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, on Friday, officials reported.
A fire and disaster official from the Ministry of Interior told AFP: 'We understand that there are 11 fatalities and 25 people injured critically', adding that '34 sustained non-life-threatening injuries and three are still missing.'
The fire broke out around 1:00 PM (0400 GMT) and spread rapidly inside the facility, resulting in thick gray smoke. About 170 workers were in the building when the fire started, and footage from the scene showed workers jumping from upper floor windows to escape the flames.
Nam Deuk-woo, chief of the firefighting teams in the Daedeok area, stated that the cause of the fire had not yet been determined, although witnesses reported hearing an explosion. He added that firefighters could not enter parts of the building for fear of collapse.
Instead, teams focused on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby facilities and removing hazardous materials. Officials reported that approximately 200 kilograms of highly reactive chemicals were stored inside the factory. Yonhap reported that the site was storing sodium, which could explode if not handled properly.
Some of the injured suffered from smoke inhalation, while others sustained injuries from jumping out of the building, according to Nam.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered full mobilization of personnel and equipment to support rescue efforts. More than 500 emergency personnel and around 120 vehicles were deployed, including evacuation aircraft, an automated water cannon vehicle, and several firefighting robots designed to operate in hazardous areas.
The robots were used to cool down the structure and conduct safety checks, allowing search operations for the missing to continue late into Friday. Human remains were found on the second floor, and nine other people were located in what is believed to be a gymnasium on the third floor, according to Nam.
By Saturday morning, rescue teams had finished searching all accessible areas inside the factory, and Nam indicated that the remaining missing individuals could likely be trapped under collapsed debris. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by noon on Saturday.