Firefighters in South Korea are battling a major blaze at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, with dozens injured and a nationwide emergency mobilization ordered, authorities said Friday.
The fire broke out at about 1:17 p.m. at a facility in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok-gu. Fire authorities escalated the response within minutes, issuing a Phase 1 alert nine minutes after the initial report and raising it to Phase 2 five minutes later.
At 1:53 p.m., authorities issued a nationwide fire mobilization order amid concerns over large-scale casualties, deploying more than 90 vehicles and about 200 personnel. A helicopter from the Korea Forest Service was also dispatched to assist firefighting efforts.
At least 55 people had been injured, including 24 seriously and 31 with minor injuries, as of 3:30 p.m. Most were hurt after inhaling toxic gases or falling from the building, officials said.
About 170 people were working at the factory at the time of the fire, and 14 remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that the toll could rise.
Firefighters have been unable to conduct internal search operations due to the risk of structural collapse. The facility consists of two buildings connected by a passageway; the building where the fire began has been completely destroyed, and flames have spread to the adjacent structure.
Authorities said about 200 kilograms of sodium is stored inside the facility, raising concerns over potential explosions. Fire crews are focusing on preventing the blaze from reaching the material.
“The fire is spreading rapidly due to the prefabricated structure, and the risk of collapse is making it difficult to enter the building,” a fire official said.
Authorities said they will investigate the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage once the blaze is brought under control.
hnpark@heraldcorp.com
