A fire that claimed 14 lives at a Daejeon manufacturing facility was reported to have started with sparks from the ceiling, rapidly engulfing the building.
An investigation into a tragic fire at a Daejeon manufacturing plant, which resulted in 14 fatalities, reveals eyewitness accounts stating that sparks ignited from the ceiling and quickly spread throughout the facility. The incident marks the worst industrial disaster under the Lee Jae-myung administration, prompting a task force involving multiple agencies including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and local authorities to focus on identifying the cause and accountability for the disaster.
On January 20, at approximately 1:17 PM, fire officials received testimonies indicating that the fire began at the ceiling of Safety Engineering, an automotive parts manufacturing facility in the Daedeok District. An employee reported witnessing the sparks and described the frantic effort to locate a fire extinguisher before flames rapidly engulfed the area. Although fire authorities suspect the origin of the blaze may be on the first floor, they acknowledge that they have yet to conclusively determine the exact starting point, and the absence of CCTV footage complicates the investigation.
Authorities are prioritizing interviews to ascertain the cause of the fire, with investigations extending to statements from the company representatives and plant managers. Significant challenges remain as portions of the ceiling have collapsed, hindering the on-site investigation. Furthermore, it has been disclosed that last month, the Daejeon Daedeok Fire Department had notified Safety Engineering of violations related to the handling of hazardous materials, raising serious concerns about safety oversight in the industry.
