"More time needed to search for 14 missing after Daejeon auto parts factory fire"

[The Financial News] A major fire that broke out at an auto parts factory in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok District, Daejeon Metropolitan City, at 1:17 p.m. on the 20th was about 80% contained as of 6 p.m. the same day. Fourteen workers who were inside the factory remain out of contact, and authorities say it will take considerably more time to fully extinguish the fire before firefighters can safely enter to search for them.
At a briefing on the fire situation around 6 p.m., Nam Deuk-woo, head of Daedeok Fire Station, stated, "We currently estimate the containment rate at over 80%." He added, "However, that does not mean we can completely put out the fire within one to two hours. We have not been able to enter the interior to carry out suppression, so it will take a long time."
Fire authorities have issued a National Fire Mobilization Order and deployed 81 pieces of equipment, including helicopters, along with 229 personnel to battle the blaze. They have managed to bring the main fire under control, but one factory building has been completely destroyed, raising serious concerns about collapse and preventing entry into the structure.
Of the 170 employees who were working at the time, 156 have been rescued or evacuated. Among them, 55 suffered various injuries and are receiving treatment. Seven critical patients and 17 emergency patients were transported to different hospitals, and no fatalities have been reported so far.
Authorities are still trying to determine the whereabouts of the 14 missing employees. Cell phone location tracking indicates that all of them are near the fire site. They are believed to be inside the burned factory, but because crews cannot yet conduct an interior search, the exact situation remains unknown.
Firefighters have removed all 101 kilograms of sodium stored inside the factory, which had made firefighting more difficult, as well as two drums of waste, moving them to a safe area away from the blaze. Efforts to fully extinguish the fire are continuing.
Fire authorities declared a Level 1 response at 1:26 p.m., raised it to Level 2 at 1:33 p.m., and at 1:53 p.m. issued a national fire mobilization directive.
The exact cause of the fire and the precise ignition point have not yet been identified. However, fire officials believe the flames spread very rapidly because there was a passageway between the two factory buildings.
The building in question was not required to have sprinklers installed, and they were reportedly installed only in part of the parking area inside the building.
Nam said, "Because the fire broke out during lunchtime, many employees were gathered in break rooms or inside the building, which likely increased the scale of the damage." He explained, "The size of the fire has now been significantly reduced, but we will only be able to begin the search after the flames are completely extinguished."

kwj5797@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Won-jun Reporter