Additional Coverage:
Daejeon, South Korea – A significant fire erupted at a car parts manufacturing plant in the central city of Daejeon on Friday, resulting in injuries to at least 53 individuals and leaving 14 others unaccounted for, according to official reports.
The blaze was first reported around 1:17 p.m. local time, prompting the National Fire Agency to declare a national firefighting mobilization order. This directive is issued when the severity of a fire is believed to exceed the capabilities of local emergency services.
At the time the fire broke out, 170 workers were inside the facility. Officials confirm that 14 of these individuals have yet to be located. Among the injured, 24 sustained serious injuries, with many suffering from toxic gas inhalation or falls from the building.
Over 200 firefighters, supported by 90 pieces of equipment and helicopters from the forestry service, have been deployed to combat the fire. The plant consists of two buildings; one has been completely destroyed, while the other continues to burn. Firefighters have been unable to enter the remaining structure due to fears of collapse, further complicating containment efforts.
An additional challenge for emergency crews is the presence of 200 kilograms of sodium within the building, which poses an explosion risk if not handled properly.
In response to the emergency, President Lee Jae Myung has directed authorities to utilize all available resources for victim rescue and fire containment. Earlier, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok issued similar instructions to the interior ministry and the fire agency, also tasking the Daejeon metropolitan government and police with implementing traffic control and evacuation measures to prevent further damage.