(3rd LD) 14 unaccounted for in fire at Daejeon car parts plant

▲ A fire breaks out at a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon on March 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Workers are seen escaping a fire at a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon on March 20, 2026, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Black smoke rises from a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon on March 20, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Black smoke rises from a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon on March 20, 2026, in this photo provided by the National Fire Agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) car plant-fire

(3rd LD) 14 unaccounted for in fire at Daejeon car parts plant

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest developments, comments in paras 1, 3-4, 8, 11-13; ADDS new photo)

DAEJEON, March 20 (Yonhap) -- A fire broke out at a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon on Friday, injuring at least 55 people, with 14 others unaccounted for, authorities said.

The fire was reported at around 1:17 p.m., prompting the National Fire Agency to issue a national firefighting mobilization order, which is given when the scale of the fire is deemed to surpass the firefighting capacity of the local government.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety ordered the formation of a central disaster response headquarters to handle the accident in a more coordinated manner and prevent further damage.

"The government will make the utmost effort to manage the situation, carry out recovery work and support the victims," Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said.

A total of 170 workers were inside the plant when the blaze started, and 14 of them have been unreachable, officials said.

Of the injured, including 24 with serious injuries, many had inhaled toxic gas or fallen from the building, they said.

More than 200 firefighters and 90 pieces of equipment have been deployed to the scene to put out the blaze, aided by helicopters from the forestry service.

Fire authorities said 80 percent of the fire had been extinguished as of around 7 p.m.

Of the two buildings making up the plant, one has completely burned down, while the other is still burning. Firefighters have not been able to enter the structure due to concerns it could collapse.

Also complicating the firefighting effort is 200 kilograms of sodium inside the building, which could explode if poorly handled.

Authorities said they plan to begin search operations after conducting a safety inspection to ensure structural stability.

"Due to the risk of collapse, it is difficult to enter the building to fully extinguish the fire," said Nam Deuk-woo, chief of Daedeok Fire Station in Daejeon. "It is expected to take a long time to clear the smoldering debris."

He said unmanned firefighting robots have been deployed to search the first floor.

President Lee Jae Myung ordered authorities to mobilize all available resources to rescue the victims and contain the fire, his office said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok gave similar instructions to the interior ministry and the fire agency, while ordering the Daejeon metropolitan government and the police to ensure no further damage by implementing traffic control and evacuation measures.

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