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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Hanwha Aerospace explosion site undergoes joint investigation with families participating

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Authorities are conducting a joint investigation into an explosion at the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon, South Korea.
  • The blast occurred in a cleaning room, resulting in seven casualties, including five fatalities.
  • The investigation aims to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, with forensic analysis and victim identification underway.

Police and labor authorities have launched a joint investigation into a deadly explosion that occurred at the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon, South Korea, leaving seven people injured, including five who died.

This investigation is being conducted to determine the cause and circumstances of the fire. We will examine the fire status, investigate the suspected origin area, check for flammable materials, and conduct a search for human remains.

— Yoo Seung-sikHead of the scientific investigation unit at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, briefing reporters before the joint investigation.

The blast took place on Friday morning in a cleaning room at the company's Daejeon plant. A joint investigation team, comprising police, fire officials, forensic experts, and labor ministry representatives, entered the site on Saturday to examine the scene. The investigation will focus on identifying the cause of the fire and explosion, examining the fire's origin, searching for flammable materials, and conducting a search for human remains.

"We are not ruling out any possibilities at this stage," stated Yoo Seung-sik, head of the scientific investigation unit at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency. He assured that all collected evidence would be sent for detailed analysis to the National Forensic Service. Yoo emphasized the commitment to conducting a swift, transparent, and objective investigation, given the significant number of victims.

We are not ruling out any possibilities at this stage, and all collected evidence will be sent to the National Forensic Service for detailed analysis. As this is a case with many victims, we will conduct the investigation as swiftly, transparently, and objectively as possible based on factual evidence.

— Yoo Seung-sikHead of the scientific investigation unit at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, assuring the thoroughness and impartiality of the investigation.

In addition to the on-site investigation, autopsies are being performed on the five deceased individuals. DNA samples from the victims and their families have been submitted to the National Forensic Service for identification purposes. The explosion occurred around 10:59 AM on Friday in the cleaning room of Building 69 at the Hanwha Aerospace facility in Oesam-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, causing one fatality and two injuries.

DNA from the deceased and their families was submitted to the National Forensic Service yesterday, and autopsies are scheduled to take place at the National Forensic Service today.

— Yoo Seung-sikHead of the scientific investigation unit at the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, providing an update on the victim identification process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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