Seoul, Mar 21 (EFE).- At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured after a fire tore through an automotive parts factory in Daejeon, prompting a large-scale emergency response and a visit from President Lee Jae-myung.
Rescue teams recovered additional bodies from the charred remains of the factory on Saturday morning, initially bringing the death toll to 11 while three people were still missing, according to Yonhap news agency.
Hours later, officials confirmed that the bodies of the three missing persons had also been found.
The fire broke out on Friday around 1:30 pm local time (04:30 GMT) and left about 60 people injured, including two firefighters. At least 35 of the injured are reported to be in serious condition.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung visited the scene on Saturday to oversee search and rescue operations and meet with victims’ families. He later traveled to a nearby hospital to visit those injured in the blaze.
Around 170 workers were inside the facility when the fire erupted and spread rapidly, according to fire authorities.
Firefighters initially faced difficulties entering the building due to fears of structural collapse and the presence of approximately 200 kg of sodium, a highly reactive substance that complicated firefighting efforts.
The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide mobilization order, as the scale of the incident exceeded local response capacity. After more than 10 hours of firefighting, the blaze was brought under control.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Yonhap reported that witnesses described hearing an explosion before the flames spread.
“We express our deepest condolences to the victims and extend our sympathies to their families,” said National Fire Agency Commissioner Kim Seung-ryong. “We will do everything possible to determine the cause of the fire and prevent similar tragedies.” EFE
kor-mca-sk
