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Fire in apartment block kills four, injures 124
An apartment block in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, is seen destroyed by a fire that broke out Saturday morning. Yonhap
By Lee Kyung-min
By Lee Kyung-min
Four people were killed and 124 injured ― 10 critically ― in a fire at an apartment block in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, Saturday morning.
More than 220 people from 175 households were left homeless, and the local government will ask the central government to declare the area a disaster zone.
Victims, most with burns or suffering from toxic gas inhalation, were taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Those who lost their homes are staying at an emergency shelter the government set up in a nearby elementary school.
Uijeongbu police said surveillance camera footage showed the fire started from a motorcycle parked near the Daebong Green apartment block entrance, one minute after the machine’s owner readjusted the seat and left.
The owner, surnamed Kim, 54, who is not a resident, was one of the injured, and police will question him about possible arson.
About 20 cars parked nearby caught fire first, with the fire then spreading quickly to the 10-story building, and 10-story and 14-story buildings nearby, police said.
The two 10-story buildings had no sprinklers because only those over 11 stories have to have them, according to construction laws.
Safety authorities said that with no way to extinguish the fire, it spread through the flammable exterior material, Dryvit.
The exterior wall insulation is known for its low cost compared to other non-flammable insulation materials.
Police also said the damaged buildings were too close to each another.
Such buildings, constructed for commercial use, not residential use, are allowed to have a gap of only one meter between them, a further danger if a fire breaks out.
Safety officials said the law needed far tougher mandatory safety standards.
Uijeongbu City Mayor Ahn Byung-yong said the city would cover all medical costs incurred.
“I pledge to support the need of the victims of the unfortunate incident swiftly ― Uijeongbu will do its best,” he said.
Police experts and the National Forensic Service will investigate to determine the exact cause of the fire from today.