Around 1:17 PM on the 20th, a large fire of unknown origin broke out at a car parts manufacturing plant in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon. [Photo = Yonhap News]

A large fire of unknown origin broke out at a car parts manufacturing plant in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon.

The fire, which occurred around 1:17 PM on the 20th, has reportedly resulted in significant casualties, with dozens of people injured or killed and many employees missing.

"Screams for help, hanging from windows"... The critical moments of the accident

At the time of the fire, many workers were on duty inside the factory. The flames and toxic gases spread rapidly, creating a scene of chaos as employees who could not evacuate in time clung to windows, pleading for rescue.

Some employees could not withstand the intense heat and flames and jumped from the building, creating a perilous situation.

Immediately after the fire broke out, fire authorities issued a Level 2 response and a National Fire Mobilization Order, deploying approximately 100 pieces of equipment for a full-scale firefighting effort.

However, strong winds and the sodium components stored inside the factory fueled the fire. Furthermore, the combustion spread rapidly due to the nature of the prefabricated sandwich panel structure. The thermal deformation of the steel frame structure due to the flames is also reported to be severe.

Fire Authorities Issue National Fire Mobilization Order… Firefighting Difficulties

As of 9 PM, the firefighting progress reached 95-98%, but the risk of building collapse increased, leading to a temporary suspension of internal entry by rescue personnel. Safety assessment experts diagnosed that "the building is in a state where it could collapse at any moment due to thermal deformation."

Fire authorities are currently focusing on cooling the building and plan to resume intensive search operations, prioritizing the second-floor lounge where the 14 individuals with whom contact has been lost are presumed to have been, once safety is secured.

By Reporter Im Yo-hee