Officials say 14 were killed in fire at South Korean auto parts plant

South Korean rescue teams have recovered the remains of 14 individuals from the devastating fire that engulfed an auto parts factory in Daejeon, marking one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in recent years.

The blaze, which broke out Friday afternoon at the Anjun Industrial facility, also left 59 people injured, with 25 suffering serious injuries. Medical officials have not yet confirmed if any of the injured remain in life-threatening condition as hospitals continue to provide treatment across the region.

More than 500 emergency personnel responded to the industrial complex, where witnesses described seeing thick gray smoke billowing from the building. Harrowing videos captured workers jumping from windows to escape the rapidly spreading flames.

Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of Daedeok district, explained that structural integrity concerns initially prevented firefighters from entering the heavily damaged building. “The damage was so extensive we feared imminent collapse,” Nam said. “We deployed unmanned firefighting robots to cool the structure before conducting a thorough safety inspection.”

The search operation continued through the night. Nine victims were discovered in what appeared to be a third-floor gymnasium area, while three others were found near a water tank on the second floor. By Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed all missing workers had been accounted for.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited the disaster site on Saturday, meeting with grieving family members and inspecting the ongoing recovery efforts. He called for reinforced safety protocols to prevent further tragedy as teams worked amid the unstable structure.

“This is a heartbreaking day for Daejeon and for our entire nation,” President Lee told reporters. “We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what went wrong and how we can prevent such disasters in the future.”

The fire reportedly began around 1:18 p.m. Friday, with multiple witnesses describing hearing an explosion before flames rapidly engulfed the facility. Fire officials focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to adjacent buildings, particularly concerned about nearby chemical storage areas.

In a particularly dangerous aspect of the operation, emergency teams recovered more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals from the site, which could have caused secondary explosions had the fire reached them.

The Daejeon incident highlights ongoing concerns about industrial safety standards in South Korea, where several high-profile workplace accidents have occurred in recent years despite government pledges to strengthen regulations.

South Korea’s manufacturing sector, a crucial driver of the nation’s economy, has faced scrutiny over worker safety conditions, especially in smaller facilities that supply larger conglomerates. The auto parts industry represents a significant segment of South Korea’s industrial base, with companies like Anjun Industrial providing components for domestic and international automakers.

Local hospitals reported that 28 victims remained hospitalized as of Saturday morning. Four patients underwent surgeries for broken bones and other trauma injuries, many sustained when they jumped from windows to escape the flames. Others suffered severe smoke inhalation, according to medical officials.

The disaster response included approximately 120 specialized vehicles and equipment pieces, including aircraft, unmanned water cannon vehicles, and two firefighting robots designed to access difficult areas. These robots proved crucial in the initial cooling operations that allowed search teams to eventually enter the structure.

City officials have established a support center for victims’ families and announced plans for counseling services for survivors, many of whom witnessed colleagues trapped in the burning building. An investigation into the cause of the explosion and fire is ongoing, with industrial safety inspectors joining fire investigators at the scene.