President Lee Inspects Daejeon Fire Disaster Site, Reviews Search and Recovery Efforts: "Ensure No Secondary Accidents"

Visit to the Anjeon Industrial Fire Site in Daedeok District

Encouraging Rescue Workers and Receiving Updates on Damage

Direct On-Site Visit After Ordering Full Mobilization of Equipment and Personnel the Previous Day

11 Dead, 3 Missi

On March 21, President Lee Jaemyung visited the site of the Anjeon Gongup industrial fire disaster in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon to inspect the ongoing search and rescue operations. He urged officials to "make sure there are no secondary accidents."

Yonhap News

President Lee arrived at the fire site at around 3:05 p.m. and greeted each firefighter and paramedic waiting in front of the fire trucks and ambulances with a handshake. He then stood in front of the situation board installed at the site and received a briefing on the casualties and the search status, among other details, from the head of the Central Emergency Rescue Control Team. During the briefing, he made the aforementioned remarks.

President Lee reviewed the situation board to check the location of the collapse and the search methods. He then moved directly in front of the collapsed area and exchanged handshakes again with members of the Daedeok Fire Station. At the site, he nodded as he listened to explanations about the progress of the rescue operations, and remarked, "Everything has melted," as he looked at the collapsed outer wall of the building.

The fire authorities reported to President Lee that, as of 12:10 p.m. that day, one more person targeted for rescue had been found, bringing the total to 11 out of 14. The search for the remaining missing persons was ongoing. They also explained that the large number of victims was due to workers gathering in one spot during lunchtime, and that the fire spread rapidly, likely because of the sandwich panel structure.

President Lee inquired about the number of missing persons and the number of people on duty at the time, asking, "How many people were working?" He also asked questions about the support for victims' families and the reasons for the rapid spread of the fire. President Lee repeatedly shook hands with the firefighters waiting in front of the collapsed site, saying, "Thank you for your hard work," and listened to the explanations about the damage and search plans until the end.

This visit is seen as reaffirming the government's commitment to a full-scale response at the national level following the major fire disaster that occurred the previous day. Earlier, President Lee had received a report on the Daejeon Daedeok-gu plant fire on March 20 and immediately ordered "the mobilization of all available equipment and personnel for accident response and rescuing lives." He also stressed, "Along with swift rescue operations, ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent safety accidents involving rescue personnel." Through social media, he further stated that he would closely monitor the situation and promptly provide necessary support and follow-up actions.

Yonhap News Agency

The fire broke out at an auto parts manufacturing plant in Munpyeong-dong, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon at 1:17 p.m. on March 20. The fire authorities issued a second-level response and a nationwide fire mobilization order in succession as they worked on firefighting and rescue operations. During the overnight search, 10 missing persons were found dead. One more body was recovered at 1 p.m. on the 21st, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11. There are 59 injured and three people still missing.

Most of the victims were found within the internal spaces on the second and third floors of the plant. Fire authorities are continuing the search for the remaining missing persons by deploying rescue dogs, heavy equipment, and detection devices, focusing on areas with a high risk of collapse. Authorities have also launched a full-scale investigation into the precise cause of the fire, including the point of ignition, the path of the fire's spread, and any structural modifications to the building.

The government has also activated a pan-governmental response system. Prime Minister Kim Minseok visited the site on the night of the 20th and again in the early morning of the 21st to inspect the ongoing search. Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojoong convened a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, ordering the establishment of a Central Joint Disaster Victim Support Center and instructing officials to provide tailored support measures for each victim. The Ministry of Employment and Labor set up its own headquarters to provide assistance to bereaved families, process industrial accident compensation, and manage trauma care.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.