Unauthorized structural changes are suspected to have led to high casualties in a fire at an auto parts plant in Daejeon. The blaze killed 14 people and injured 60 others, with firefighters extinguishing the flames after nearly 11 hours.
A massive blaze broke out on Friday at an auto parts plant in the central city of Daejeon. It left 14 people killed and 60 others injured, with firefighters fully extinguishing the flames after nearly 11 hours. Of the casualties, nine people were found dead inside a gym that doubled as the factory's break room. The area was not part of the structure's floor plan and appears to have been built without authorities' approval. Officials believe workers resting there faced difficulties evacuating due to its complex layout. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire, suspecting oil mist and residue at the plant added fuel to the blaze. An industrial safety union official said the union had asked the company to improve its fire safety measures and voiced concerns about a build-up of oil mist and residue. This photo shows the aftermath of the blaze at the plant in Daejeon on Saturday. Yonhap
