A severe fire in a Daejeon factory killed 14 workers.
- Doyoung Lim
- Mar 24
- 1 min read
Mar 24, 2026
Doyoung Lim
A devastating fire at an auto parts factory in Daejeon’s Daedoek District has left at least 14 people dead and raised serious concerns about safety failures, authorities confirmed. The first fire broke out at around 1:17 p.m. on March 20 in an industrial area in Daejeon. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and battled the flames for hours as thick smoke filled the building.
According to the fire officials, the plant’s flammable environment was identified as a primary cause of the fire. The factory used cutting oil in its manufacturing processes, and oil residues accumulated on ceilings and pipes, allowing flames that started on the first floor to spread rapidly to the second and third floors.
In addition, some workers were reported missing. Rescue teams conducted operations overnight despite the concern of a sudden collapse and confirmed that all missing individuals had been found dead inside the factory. Also, about 60 workers have been injured, some suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation.
The building's sandwich panel construction, which uses highly flammable styrofoam, also contributed to the disaster. The styrofoam panel can collapse more easily than others, and the structural components can melt when it reaches 800 degrees Celsius.
Illegal construction modifications amplified the tragedy. Nine of 14 victims were found in mezzanine and intermediate stairways, which were not in the building blueprints. Authorities now face criticism for failing to detect and address the unauthorized construction.
