(3rd LD) 1 firefighter in cardiac arrest, 7 others injured in Bucheon factory fire

Bucheon, South Korea experienced a devastating factory fire on Friday, leaving one firefighter in cardiac arrest and seven others injured, according to officials. The fire erupted at a four-story metalworking factory at 8:38 a.m., quickly spreading out of control before being fully contained by fire authorities at 11:06 a.m. Among the casualties, two firefighters sustained serious injuries, with one going into cardiac arrest and being rushed to the hospital.

Four additional firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion at nearby hospitals, while two factory officials sustained minor injuries.

Fire investigators are currently working to determine the exact cause of the blaze, which reportedly stemmed from flammable materials stored within the factory premises. Upon receiving the distressing news, President Lee Jae Myung immediately called for full efforts to combat the fire and rescue those in peril. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung conveyed the president's commitment to a thorough response to mitigate further damage, emphasizing the presence of inflammable substances inside the factory and urging special caution to safeguard the well-being of the firefighters engaged in the firefighting efforts.