At Least 14 People Dead in Deadly Factory Explosion: Workers Leap from Windows

A routine workday turned into a nightmare when a massive explosion-triggered fire tore through a car parts factory in South Korea — leaving at least 14 people dead and nearly 60 others injured in a scene witnesses described as pure chaos.

The deadly blaze erupted just before 1:30 p.m. on Friday inside a three-story manufacturing plant in the city of Daejeon, about 100 miles south of Seoul. Within minutes, thick black smoke swallowed the building as flames spread rapidly, trapping workers inside.

Panicked employees were seen jumping from windows in desperate attempts to escape the inferno, according to officials on the scene.

“It was already out of control when crews arrived,” local fire chief Nam Deuk-woo said, describing a scene where workers were fleeing for their lives before first responders could even get inside.

Authorities believe the fire was sparked by an explosion, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

More than 500 emergency personnel — including firefighters, police, and rescue teams — rushed to the scene as the factory burned. Crews battled the flames for hours while searching for victims inside the charred structure.

The aftermath was grim.

Officials said multiple bodies were discovered on upper floors of the building, including several victims found inside what appeared to be a gym area. One victim’s remains were located on a lower level.

At least 25 people suffered serious injuries, many from jumping from the building or inhaling toxic smoke. Survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals as emergency crews worked to account for all workers.

Roughly 170 people were believed to be inside the factory when the fire broke out.

Adding to the danger, responders recovered more than 200 pounds of highly reactive chemicals inside the facility — raising concerns about how quickly the blaze intensified and why it became so deadly so fast.

For hours, towering plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky, marking the site of one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the region in recent years.

Officials say all previously missing workers have now been accounted for, but questions remain about safety conditions and what exactly caused the catastrophic explosion.

An investigation is ongoing.