SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean rescue workers on Saturday recovered the remains of 10 people from the charred wreckage of an auto parts factory in the central city of Daejeon, where a blaze likely triggered by an explosion injured at least 59 others and left four missing.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said 25 people were seriously injured but officials didn’t immediately confirm whether any were in life-threatening condition. More than 500 firefighters, police and emergency personnel were deployed to contain the fire and conduct rescue operations after the fire broke out Friday afternoon.
Videos and photos from the scene showed thick gray smoke billowing from the complex and some workers jumping from a building.
Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of the city’s Daedeok district, said the blaze destroyed a factory building that firefighters initially could not enter over fears it might collapse. Searches for the missing workers began late Friday after officials deployed unmanned firefighting robots to cool the structure and conducted a safety inspection.
The remains of one person were found on the second floor of the building, while nine others were discovered in what is believed to have been a gym on the third floor, Nam said. He said rescuers had searched all accessible areas as of Saturday morning, and that the remaining four were likely trapped beneath collapsed rubble. Further safety inspections were planned before crews attempt to remove the debris and search for the missing workers.
Nam said police have identified one of the workers who died, while genetic testing was being conducted on the other nine.
The fire was reported at about 1:18 p.m. Friday. Nam said the cause was not immediately known, but the blaze appeared to have spread rapidly, with witnesses reporting an explosion. Firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to an adjacent facility and isolating explosive chemicals. Nam said workers recovered more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals from the site.
Some people were injured when they jumped from the building to escape, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, officials said. As of Saturday morning, 28 people were hospitalized and four of them underwent surgeries for broken bones and other injuries.
About 120 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including aircraft, an unmanned water cannon vehicle and two firefighting robots for hard-to-reach areas, were deployed along with hundreds of personnel.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for the full mobilization of personnel and equipment to contain the fire and support rescue operations.
Black smoke rises from an auto parts plant in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (Kim June-beom/Yonhap via AP)
Black smoke rises from an auto parts plant in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday, March 20, 2026. (Kim So-yeon/Yonhap via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jerami Grant made a 3-pointer with 22.2 seconds left and the Portland Trail Blazers escaped with a 108-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
After a timeout by the Trail Blazers, Grant took an inbound pass from Jrue Holiday and made his fourth 3 of the night from the right corner. Grant grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end and made two free throws to finish with 26 points in Portland’s third straight win.
Donovan Clingan scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double. Deni Avdija added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who moved into eighth place in the Western Conference. Holiday had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Rudy Gobert led short-handed Minnesota with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu added 17 points and tied a career high with 10 rebounds.
Julius Randle added 19 points for the Timberwolves, but they lost for the first time in three games without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, who remains out with right knee inflammation. Center Naz Reid, a top bench player, missed his second straight game with a right knee sprain.
Donte DiVincenzo missed a driving layup with 11.3 seconds to play that would have tied it. Gobert missed twice on tips before Grant grabbed his fifth rebound.
The Trail Blazers led by 18 with 2 minutes left in first half, but three 3-pointers by the Timberwolves, including two by Bones Hyland, were part of an 11-2 run before intermission to get within single digits.
A fast-break layup by DiVincenzo capped an 18-7 run by Minnesota to tie it at 79 midway through the third quarter.
Portland played its third straight game without forward Vit Krejci (left calf contusion).
Trail Blazers: Finish a five-game road trip Sunday at Denver.
Timberwolves: Play at Boston on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, right, looks to shoot over Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) intercepts a pass intended for Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) goes up to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
