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Blaze erupts at Gyeonggi factory with three injured, 17 evacuated

Published: 31 Mar. 2026, 18:11

Flames rise from a factory in Yangju, Gyeonggi, on March 31. [GYEONGGI-DO FIRE SERVICES]

A fire broke out at a factory in Yangju, Gyeonggi, at around 3:49 p.m. on Tuesday, injuring three people and forcing 17 others to evacuate.

The injured included two people who suffered minor injuries such as second-degree burns to the face, fire authorities said. Seventeen factory workers evacuated on their own.

Black smoke rose into the sky after the fire broke out, prompting dozens of emergency calls. Witnesses in nearby Paju, Gyeonggi, also reported seeing the smoke.

“I saw thick black smoke rising over the mountain even though the weather was clear,” a witness said.

Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at around 4:11 p.m. and deployed 97 personnel and 40 pieces of equipment to contain the blaze. Authorities suspect an explosion occurred inside the factory as they received multiple reports of explosion sounds from the scene.

The Yangju City Hall sent out an emergency alert advising drivers to avoid roads near the factory and urging nearby residents to evacuate.

Fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage after they fully extinguish the blaze.

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 BAE JAE-SUNG [[email protected]]