A devastating fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon has claimed the lives of 14 people and left 59 others injured, authorities confirmed on Saturday, updating an earlier toll of 11 fatalities.
The blaze broke out on Friday at around 1:00 pm local time (0400 GMT) at the factory in central Daejeon, where approximately 170 workers were present.
Fire crews initially struggled to enter the building due to the risk of structural collapse and the presence of sodium stored on-site, a highly reactive substance that can explode if mishandled, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing an explosion as black smoke billowed from the facility. Firefighters were seen using cranes to douse the flames, which were eventually brought under control by Saturday afternoon.
An official from the Interior Ministry’s disaster management department told AFP:
“We can confirm the latest death toll has risen to 14, with no one reported missing.”
President Lee Jae Myung visited the site and met with bereaved families, pledging full government support for victims and their relatives. Writing on X, he vowed:
“The government will thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and implement fundamental measures to prevent such tragedies.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined.
South Korea has faced recurring industrial safety challenges despite being a wealthy nation. Between 2000 and 2024, more than 10,000 workplace deaths were recorded nationwide, according to official statistics.
In September 2024, the CEO of lithium battery maker Aricell was sentenced to 15 years in prison for one of South Korea’s deadliest industrial fires, which killed 22 people, mostly Chinese nationals, at a factory in Hwaseong. The court ruled that the company had prioritized profit over workers’ safety.
The latest tragedy raises fresh concerns about industrial safety protocols in South Korea’s manufacturing sector and underscores the need for stricter enforcement of workplace regulations.
