(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more details, casualties; CHANGES photo)
BUCHEON, South Korea, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- One firefighter went into cardiac arrest and six other people were injured Friday following a fire at a factory in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, officials said.
The fire broke out at the four-story metalworking factory at 8:38 a.m., with authorities bringing the main blaze under control about two hours later after deploying 80 firefighters.
Two firefighters were seriously injured, including one who was rushed to a hospital in a state of cardiac arrest. The fire also left three other firefighters and two factory officials with minor injuries, such as smoke inhalation.
Fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the blaze. The factory reportedly stored flammable material.
This photo, provided by the Bucheon Fire Station, shows a fire that broke out at a metal parts coating factory in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, on Oct. 16, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
After being briefed on the fire, President Lee Jae Myung called for utmost efforts to extinguish the fire and rescue those in danger, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
The president also called for a thorough response to prevent further damage, citing the presence of inflammable substances inside the factory, while urging special caution to ensure the safety of firefighters battling the fire, Kang said.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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