Fire at Korean car parts factory kills 14, injures 60

Reuters
By Reuters March 21, 2026 10:00 (EAT)
Add as a Preferred Source on Google
Fire at Korean car parts factory kills 14, injures 60

Smoke rises from at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, March 20, 2026. Yonhap via REUTERS

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

Fourteen people died ​and 25 were seriously injured in a fire at a car parts factory in the South Korean city ​of Daejeon, fire authorities said on Saturday.

The fire broke out around ​lunchtime on Friday and was contained by 11:48 p.m. (1448 GMT), the safety ministry said.

Another 35 people suffered minor injuries, the fire authorities added.

They ​said the factory was owned by Anjun Industrial, which makes ​engine valves and is a supplier for Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), and Kia Corp (000270.KS), ‌among others, according to its website.

Reuters was unable to contact Anjun for comment.

In a statement on the company's website, CEO Sohn Ju-hwan apologised, adding that it would fully cooperate with authorities, investigate the ​cause of the ​accident, review its safety systems and inspections, and swiftly implement all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.

The government ​activated a centralised disaster management system after President ​Lee Jae Myung ordered all available resources to be used to deal with the fire and save lives.

The fire authorities said that one ​victim was found on the first ​floor, four on the second, and nine on the third.

Join the Discussion

Share your perspective with the Citizen Digital community.

Moderation applies

Sign In to Publish

No comments yet

This discussion is waiting for your voice. Be the first to share your thoughts!