South Korea Factory Fire Kills 14 People, Injures Nearly 60

At least 14 people have died and nearly 60 others were injured in a fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea.

Fire authorities said 25 people were seriously injured, while around 35 others suffered minor injuries. All missing workers have now been accounted for after search operations in the three-storey building.

The fire broke out around 1pm on Friday while about 170 workers were inside the factory. It spread rapidly, forcing some workers to jump from the building to escape.

Rescue efforts were slowed due to the presence of sodium at the site, a highly reactive material that can explode when exposed to water. Firefighters had to remove the chemical before fully tackling the blaze. More than 200kg of hazardous materials were later recovered.

Over 500 firefighters, police, and emergency personnel were deployed, along with firefighting robots to access dangerous areas. The fire was brought under control on Saturday.

Authorities said one body was found on the first floor, four on the second, and nine on the third floor, where a gym locker room was located. Some victims were severely burned, requiring DNA tests for identification.

Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, though a witness reported hearing an explosion.

The factory is operated by Anjun Industrial, a supplier of engine parts to major automakers including Hyundai and Kia. The company’s CEO, Sohn Ju-hwan, has apologised and said the firm will cooperate with investigators and review its safety systems.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered a full emergency response and called for stronger workplace safety measures following the incident.

This is the deadliest factory fire in South Korea since a 2024 blaze at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong that killed 23 workers.