SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three people were dead in a fire which broke out at a factory producing paint materials in Cheonan, South Korea's South Chungcheong Province, Yonhap News Agency reported Friday.
The blaze started at about 11:44 a.m. local time (0244 GMT) at the factory in Cheonan, some 85 km south of capital Seoul.
As toxic smoke began to spread, the municipal government issued an emergency disaster alert, urging residents to prioritize their safety and advising drivers to take alternative routes around the area. ■