14 missing, dozens hospitalized as fire rips through Daejeon plant
Published: 20 Mar. 2026, 19:30
![Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, at around 1:17 p.m. on March 20. Authorities have issued a nationwide mobilization order, and 14 people who were at the site remain unaccounted for. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/20/0f6004f0-8286-4513-a745-88077b52d51c.jpg)
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, at around 1:17 p.m. on March 20. Authorities have issued a nationwide mobilization order, and 14 people who were at the site remain unaccounted for. [NEWS1]
DAEJEON — A fire ripped through an auto parts factory in Daejeon on Friday, with dozens injured and 14 missing as workers leaped from windows and called for help.
More than 50 people were taken to hospitals for treatment, while 14 remained unaccounted for as of press time.
Fire authorities dispatched personnel and equipment after receiving a report from a resident that a fire had broken out at the factory. A Level 2 response was issued at around 1:31 p.m., followed by a nationwide mobilization order at 1:53 p.m. due to concerns the fire could spread. A total of 90 vehicles, including fire engines and aerial ladder trucks, and 219 personnel were deployed to the scene.
According to fire authorities, about 170 employees were working at the factory. As the fire broke out around lunchtime, some workers were resting while others preparing for their shifts were asleep.
As of 6 p.m., more than 100 workers had been safely evacuated, while 55 were reported injured. Many were reportedly hurt while jumping to escape the flames or after inhaling smoke. As of 6:06 p.m., authorities said that 80 percent of the fire was contained.
The injured were initially treated at an emergency medical post set up on-site before being transferred to hospitals including Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon Eulji Medical Center and Konyang University Hospital. No one was reported to be unconscious.
![Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/20/8e40ac56-4857-4e3a-bfbe-64cd5ee8fba5.jpg)
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20. [YONHAP]
However, 14 workers who were clocked in at the time remain unaccounted for. Fire authorities said mobile phone tracking indicates that all of them are still inside the building.
The factory belongs to Anjun Industrial, which produces engine valves for automobiles and ships. The company is known for being the first in Korea to localize hollow valves for hybrid vehicles and clears over 100 billion won ($66.81 million) in exports annually.
The facility is a three-story steel-frame structure with a total floor area of 10,318 square meters (111,060 square feet), consisting of two connected buildings. The building where the fire started was completely destroyed, and the flames spread to an adjacent structure.
“The fire spread rapidly due to the prefabricated structure, and explosive combustion has made it impossible to enter the building,” said Nam Deuk-woo, the chief of the Daedeok Fire Station. “There is also a risk of further collapse.”
The fire is believed to have started in a section where automotive valves are manufactured — an area that handles sodium, a substance that can explode when it comes into contact with water. About 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of sodium were reportedly stored separately at the site.
“Because of the sodium, firefighters are restricted from using water and are having difficulty entering the building,” a fire official said.
“When sodium reacts with water, it produces hydrogen gas and poses a high risk of explosion,” Kong Ha-sung, a professor of fire and disaster prevention at Woosuk University, said. “An amount of around 200 kilograms could be powerful enough to destroy an entire floor of a building.”
Authorities are checking whether the building’s sprinkler system was activated.
“The fire has spread to the adjacent building and continues to burn,” Nam said. “We are focusing on preventing further spread while carrying out search operations.”
![Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/20/48cd1fa9-8bcb-473e-bd5a-36a7a289380b.jpg)
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at a factory in the Munpyeong-dong neighborhood of Daedeok District, Daejeon, on March 20. [YONHAP]
The scene was chaotic, as factory workers, their families and local residents anxiously awaited news about the missing.
“Workers were hanging from windows shouting for help, and some jumped to escape the flames,” an employee at a nearby factory said.
“As soon as the fire broke out, my colleagues and I evacuated immediately,” said Han Seo-hyeon, who works at a factory next door.
About 10 workers who failed to evacuate from the second and third floors reportedly opened windows and called for rescue. Some, unable to withstand the heat and smoke, jumped before safety mats were installed and suffered severe injuries.
Workers who evacuated to the rooftop were rescued using ladder trucks.
“Even though workers were calling for help, we couldn’t get close because of the flames,” an executive at a company across the street said. “I just hope there are no more casualties among those still inside.”
President Lee Jae Myung, after being briefed on the incident, ordered authorities to mobilize all available rescue and firefighting resources while emphasizing the safety of rescue personnel.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also issued an emergency directive to prioritize rescue and firefighting efforts. Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung instructed relevant agencies — including the National Fire Agency, National Police Agency, Daejeon city government and Daedeok District Office — to mobilize all available personnel and equipment, while urging strict measures to prevent accidents involving firefighters and maintain control around the scene.
Fire departments from South and North Chungcheong, along with Sejong, also dispatched specialized rescue units, unmanned water cannon vehicles and firefighting robots to assist in the response.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN JIN-HO, CHOI JONG-KWON, KIM BANG-HYUN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)