SEOUL — At least 11 people were killed and dozens more injured after a fire broke out at a South Korean car parts factory on Friday afternoon, authorities said Saturday. More than 500 firefighters, police, and emergency personnel were deployed to contain the blaze and conduct rescue operations.
South Korea Factory Fire: Rescue Efforts Continue
As of Saturday, officials confirmed 11 deaths, with 25 people sustaining serious injuries. An additional 34 individuals suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, and three workers remain missing.
The fire was reported at approximately 1:18 p.m. local time. According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, a total of 170 workers were present in the plant when the fire began.
Videos and photos from the scene depicted thick gray smoke billowing from the complex, with some workers forced to jump from the building to escape the flames.
Firefighters initially struggled to enter the factory building due to concerns about a potential collapse. Searches for the missing workers commenced late Friday after unmanned firefighting robots were used to cool the structure and assess its safety.
The fire was contained by 11:48 p.m. on Friday, the safety ministry stated.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but witnesses reported an explosion and the blaze spread rapidly. Firefighters focused on preventing the fire from spreading to a neighboring facility and removing hazardous chemicals from the site. More than 100 kg of highly reactive chemicals were recovered.
Some injuries were a result of workers jumping from the building, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, according to fire chief Nam Deuk-woo of the city’s Daedeok district.
The factory is owned by Anjun Industrial, a supplier for Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp, specializing in engine valves. Officials at Anjun were not immediately available for comment.
President Lee Jae Myung directed the full mobilization of personnel and equipment to contain the fire and support rescue operations. Approximately 120 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including aircraft, an unmanned water cannon vehicle, and two firefighting robots, were deployed.
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