Five people have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a facility operated by Hanwha Aerospace, a major South Korean defence and aerospace company, in Daejeon, South Korea.
According to local fire authorities, the incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time on Monday at the company’s research and development facility, located about 150 kilometres south of Seoul.
Officials said five workers lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries in the explosion.
Emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the resulting fire and conduct rescue operations.
A representative of the Daejeon Fire Headquarters confirmed the casualties, saying, “Five people have died and two others were injured in the explosion.”
Authorities believe the blast originated from within the factory, although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
Hanwha Aerospace is one of South Korea’s leading defence manufacturers, producing advanced weapons systems, artillery equipment, aerospace components and space technology.
Speaking on the incident, a spokesperson for Hanwha Aerospace said, “The exact circumstances and extent of the damage have not yet been fully determined. The fire has not yet been completely extinguished.”
Following the explosion, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung directed emergency agencies to mobilise all available resources to bring the fire under control and prevent further casualties.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as firefighters continue efforts to completely extinguish the blaze.
