Seoul, 1 June 2026 (dpa/MIA) - At least five people were killed and two others seriously injured in an explosion at a South Korean defence manufacturing facility on Monday, news agency Yonhap reported.

The blast occurred in the morning at a plant operated by Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon, about 150 kilometres south of Seoul. Images from the scene showed thick black smoke rising from the affected building.

Prime Minister Kim Min Seok instructed authorities to mobilize all available personnel and equipment for the rescue operation. Officials warned the death toll could rise.

The Daejeon facility is a key site for South Korea's defence industry. Local media reports said it is involved in the development of rocket engines and the production of rocket propellants.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear and remains under investigation.

The plant has experienced two fatal explosions in recent years. Five people were killed in an explosion in 2018 and three died in another blast in 2019.

South Korean news outlet News1 reported that, as in the previous incidents, the latest explosion may have been linked to work involving rocket propulsion systems, although authorities have not confirmed the report.

MIA file photo