Deadly Factory Fire in South Korea Leaves 10 Dead, Several Missing

Daejeon, March 2026 : At least ten people have lost their lives and four others remain missing after a massive fire broke out at a car parts manufacturing plant in Daejeon, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The incident has also left 59 individuals injured, with varying degrees of severity.

According to officials, a total of 170 workers were inside the facility when the fire erupted at around 1:17 p.m. on Friday. The blaze quickly intensified, prompting an emergency response and a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order issued by the National Fire Agency, indicating that the scale of the disaster exceeded local response capabilities.

Rescue teams discovered one body on the second floor of the factory, while nine others were found on the third floor. Firefighters have been conducting extensive search operations to locate the four individuals who are still unaccounted for.

Efforts to contain the fire and initiate rescue operations were initially hampered by safety concerns. Authorities feared that the structure could collapse, making it too dangerous for firefighters to enter. The situation was further complicated by the presence of approximately 200 kilograms of sodium inside the facility, a highly reactive substance that poses a significant explosion risk if not handled carefully.

After structural experts assessed the building and deemed it safe, search and rescue operations resumed late Friday night. Teams began entering the premises around 10:50 p.m., continuing their efforts through the night with the help of rescue dogs and specialised equipment.

Officials stated that authorities are taking all necessary measures to locate the missing individuals. Plans are underway to carefully dismantle parts of the structure already examined by rescue dogs, allowing personnel to access areas that may still hold survivors or victims.

The scale of the tragedy prompted swift action from the government. Kim Min-seok issued urgent directives to relevant agencies, including the interior ministry and firefighting authorities, instructing them to deploy all available resources to control the blaze and carry out rescue operations.

He also directed the Daejeon metropolitan administration and police to implement traffic control measures and ensure the safe evacuation of nearby areas to prevent further casualties or damage.

As rescue operations continue, authorities remain focused on locating the missing and ensuring the safety of personnel on site. The incident has raised serious concerns about industrial safety and emergency preparedness, as investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to follow once the situation is fully brought under control.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)