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At least 26 company employees and residents in the southern city of Seosan, South Korea, were injured on Wednesday following an explosion at Lotte Chemical Corp.'s plant.
The fire broke out following an explosion at 2:59 a.m. in the Lotte affiliate's plant in South Chungcheong Province, according to fire officials. No deaths have been reported so far.
The fire was mostly put out by 5:12 a.m., after 240 firefighters and 38 vehicles were mobilized in a major fire response.
Police suspect the explosion occurred at the plant's naphtha cracking center, which dissolves naphtha to produce various chemical products.
"No evacuation order was issued because it was not a hazardous chemical leak or a situation," explained the deputy mayor.
Fire authorities are still investigating the cause.
Lotte Chemical has suspended seven of its 10 facilities and plans to hold a briefing on the accident at 8:30 a.m.
