HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Four people were missing Monday after an explosion apparently triggered by overheating at a glue factory in a city south of Seoul, police and fire officials said.

The explosion occurred just before noon, destroying one building and damaging three others at the factory in Hwaseong, 60 kilometers south of the capital, the officials said.

Four workers remained unaccounted for as of 4 p.m., while eight others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, they added.

A fire triggered by the explosion was put out within 30 minutes.

Police and fire officials said they are investigating the exact cause of the explosion, but suspect it was caused by overheating in a tank while workers were mixing solvents to make glue and resin for paint.

(Yonhap News)