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The National Fire Agency said 24 were seriously hurt in a blaze
likely caused by an explosion. Officials could not immediately
confirm whether any of the injured were in life-threatening
condition. Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of the city’s Daedeok
district, said authorities were searching for at least 14 other
people believed to have been inside the facility when the fire
broke out.
Videos and photos from the scene showed thick gray smoke
billowing from the complex and some workers jumping from a
building.
The fire was reported at about 1:18 p.m. Nam said the cause was
not immediately known, but the blaze appeared to have spread
rapidly, with witnesses reporting an explosion.
He said the fire destroyed a factory building that firefighters
were unable to enter because of concerns it could collapse.
Efforts focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to an
adjacent facility and removing chemicals from the site. The
agency said the facility contained about 200 kilograms (440
pounds) of highly reactive chemicals.
Some people were injured when they jumped from the building to
escape, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, Nam said.
Police were tracking mobile phone signals of the 14 people still
unaccounted-for.
More than 500 firefighters, police and other emergency personnel
were deployed, along with about 120 vehicles, evacuation
aircraft and equipment, including an unmanned water cannon
vehicle and two firefighting robots used in areas difficult for
crews to access.
President Lee Jae Myung called for the full mobilization of
personnel and equipment to contain the fire and support rescue
operations.
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