A devastating industrial accident at a South Korean aerospace manufacturing facility has resulted in five fatalities and two injuries, officials confirmed Monday.
The deadly incident occurred at a Hanwha Aerospace plant located in Daejeon, where workers produce large rocket propulsion systems and work with explosive rocket fuel materials.
Two workers managed to flee the facility on their own, with one suffering severe burns, according to fire department officials who spoke at a news conference.
“Authorities have yet to identify the victims because their bodies were severely damaged,” a health official told the same briefing.
Fire department representatives revealed that the deadly blaze began after an explosion, though investigators are still working to determine what caused the initial blast.
The aerospace company specializes in defense and space technology, with the Daejeon facility specifically focused on manufacturing rocket propulsion systems and handling volatile rocket fuels.
Emergency responders faced additional challenges because they could not access building blueprints, as the facility’s layout information is classified under the country’s national security regulations, officials explained during the briefing.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the deployment of all available emergency resources to handle the situation and has demanded a thorough investigation into the tragedy, according to a statement from his office sent to news media.
A company representative from Hanwha Aerospace confirmed that the organization is conducting its own internal investigation into the incident.
