Butane gas explodes while grilling meat in Haeundae hotel room, injures 3
A gas burner / gettyimagesbank
A fire that broke out at a hotel near Busan’s Haeundae Beach on July 20 was caused by a butane gas explosion inside a guest room, authorities said Sunday.
According to the fire department, the blaze began around 6:50 p.m. on the eighth floor of a 16-story hotel in U-dong, Haeundae District, where a family of three was grilling meat on a portable gas stove inside their room.
Approximately five minutes after igniting the stove, the butane gas canister exploded, injuring the 40-year-old man and his family members with burns to their arms and faces.
The explosion triggered a fire alarm and forced 40 guests and hotel staff to evacuate. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene with 130 personnel and 38 pieces of equipment.
Thanks to the room’s sprinkler system and the occupants’ use of a fire extinguisher, the flames were quickly contained and fully extinguished by 7:04 p.m., just 14 minutes after the initial report.
Though a large-scale disaster was avoided, the incident left the hotel guests shaken and caused an estimated 3.2 million won ($2,300) in property damage.
Fire officials stressed that portable stoves and butane canisters should never be used indoors, particularly in enclosed spaces like hotel rooms.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.