A fire in Seoul's Guryong Village, in Gaepo-dong, Gangnam District, spread in strong winds on the afternoon of October 27 and damaged 77 households and 107 residents. The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported residents' anger that no one takes responsibility for a second major fire this year.
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, the fire began at about 3:49 p.m. on October 27 in Zone 2 of Guryong Village, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam District. It spread to Zones 1 and 3 and was still moving toward Zone 7 at the evening briefing. The Gangnam District Office counted 77 households and 107 residents with damage to their homes.
광고 문의 · 300×250Fire authorities raised the response to Level 2 about 30 minutes after the first report. The Kyunghyang Shinmun said 110 fire engines, 232 firefighters and six helicopters were sent, with 256 police officers and 308 health staff supporting. The Financial News later reported that a national fire mobilization order was issued and that about 940 personnel took part. The two outlets counted at different times, so the personnel figures differ.
Injuries and Evacuation
No deaths were confirmed. The Financial News said one woman in her 30s suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to hospital, and 39 residents evacuated on their own. The district opened the Gaepo Middle School gymnasium as a temporary shelter, where 24 households and 33 people were reported to be staying. Five people were moved to a nearby hotel.
Putting out the fire was hard. The Kyunghyang Shinmun said strong winds and a lack of nearby water complicated the work, and crews focused on keeping the flames from spreading to the surrounding mountain. The Financial News reported that the main fire was brought under control about six hours after it began, the response was lowered to Level 1, and mop-up work continued.
Residents' Anger and Open Questions
One resident told the Kyunghyang Shinmun it was the first fire of this size he had seen, and that two major fires had hit this year with no one taking responsibility. The earlier blaze came in January. The Kyunghyang Shinmun said it burned for about six and a half hours and left more than 180 residents without homes, while the Financial News wrote that a January 16 fire in Zone 4 sent about 250 people to safety. The figures differ and this paper does not settle on either.
Old wiring, LP gas tanks and densely packed shacks built from flammable materials are cited as reasons fires are frequent. The cause of this fire has not been determined. Fire authorities said they plan a joint forensic inspection with police once the fire is fully out, and that arson has not been confirmed so far.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the site around 8 p.m. and that President Lee Jae-myung ordered all available resources to be used to rescue residents and protect firefighters. The redevelopment schedule and housing measures for displaced residents were not specified in the reports. This paper will follow up on further announcements from the district office.