SOUTH KOREA – Deadly Explosion at South Korean Cosmetics Plant Leaves One Dead, Three Critically Injured

One person was killed and three others seriously injured after a powerful explosion tore through a cosmetics materials manufacturing facility in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, on August 4. The city lies roughly 350 kilometers (220 miles) southeast of Seoul.

The blast occurred around 12:42 p.m. local time, prompting an immediate emergency response. Fire crews from the Yeongcheon Fire Department, supported by helicopters, worked for several hours to extinguish the resulting fire, which was brought under control by approximately 6:00 p.m.

Of the 13 employees present at the time of the explosion, 12 were quickly accounted for, while one worker remained missing. During a post-fire search operation, a body was discovered among the wreckage. Authorities suspect it to be the missing 45-year-old worker, though formal identification is being conducted by the National Forensic Service.

Emergency responders treated three injured individuals at the scene, including one person suffering from severe burns.

The force of the explosion was felt several kilometers away, with residents in downtown Yeongcheon—over 6 km (3 miles) from the site—reporting they heard the blast. Nearby buildings were also damaged, including a convenience store where windows were shattered by the shockwave.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion and are assessing the extent of the structural damage to surrounding areas.

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