Incheon officetel fire put out in 50 minutes; six rescued, two hospitalised
Version 2: The initial report is confirmed by later official and business coverage: the fire was fully extinguished at 10:19 about 50 minutes after it began, 29 emergency calls were logged, and the response involved 110 personnel and 31 vehicles, while outlets continue to describe the casualty situation and the starting point of the fire differently.
In short
A fire broke out at about 09:29 on October 6 at an eight-storey officetel in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, and was fully extinguished at 10:19, about 50 minutes later. Fire authorities rescued six people and said two were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, while Yonhap reported the casualty status was still under investigation. The fire service said the cause and the scale of damage are being examined.
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A fire broke out at about 09:29 on October 6 at an officetel in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon, according to Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis. The building has one underground floor and eight floors above ground, the reports said. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Fire authorities deployed 110 personnel and 31 pieces of equipment, including pump trucks, Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis reported. Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun said the main fire was brought under control 28 minutes after it started, and Kyunghyang Shinmun, Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis said the blaze was fully extinguished at 10:19, about 50 minutes after it began. Yonhap, Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis reported that 29 calls about the fire were made to the 119 emergency line. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
Six people were rescued, according to Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Chosun Ilbo and Newsis. Kukmin Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Chosun Ilbo and Newsis reported that two people were taken to hospital, with Kyunghyang Shinmun and Newsis specifying they had inhaled smoke. Yonhap quoted a fire official as saying the casualty status was under investigation, and Dong-A Ilbo said no casualties had been confirmed at that point. The Incheon fire service said “fortunately, no major casualties occurred”, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
On the origin of the fire, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that authorities believe it started near the piloti at the first-floor parking entrance, while Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis said it was believed to have begun on the first floor. Yonhap did not specify where it started. An official quoted by Yonhap said the cause and the scale of the damage would be investigated once work to put out the remaining embers was finished, and the Incheon fire service said separately that the exact cause and damage extent would be examined, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The blaze drew 29 emergency calls and a response of 110 personnel and 31 vehicles in a residential district of Incheon, but the fire service said no major casualties occurred. The cause has not been established and authorities say the extent of the damage is still to be determined, so the impact on the building and its residents remains open.
Key facts
- The fire started at about 09:29 on October 6 at an officetel in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The building has one underground floor and eight floors above ground. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Six people were rescued, and two were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Fire authorities deployed 110 personnel and 31 vehicles, including pump trucks. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The main fire was brought under control 28 minutes after it started, and the fire was fully extinguished at 10:19, about 50 minutes after it began. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- Emergency services received 29 reports about the fire. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
- Authorities said the cause of the fire and the scale of damage are under investigation. [ 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire broke out at about 09:29 on October 6 at an officetel in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The building has one underground floor and eight floors above ground. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Six people were rescued. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Fire authorities deployed 110 personnel and 31 vehicles, including pump trucks. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The main fire was brought under control 28 minutes after it started and the fire was fully extinguished at 10:19. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Emergency services received 29 reports about the fire. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
- The fire service said the cause and the scale of the damage would be investigated. [ 2 , 4 , 8 ]
- Two people were taken to hospital. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether there were any casualties: Yonhap quoted a fire official saying the casualty status was under investigation and Dong-A Ilbo said no casualties had been confirmed, while Kyunghyang Shinmun quoted the Incheon fire service as saying no major casualties occurred and other outlets reported two people were taken to hospital. Outlets describe the casualty situation differently, and the accounts come from different points in the response.
- Where the fire began: Kyunghyang Shinmun said authorities believe it started near the piloti at the first-floor parking entrance, while Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis said it was believed to have started on the first floor; Yonhap did not specify an origin point. The starting point is described differently and no outlet has confirmed the cause.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fire breaks out at the officetel in Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, Incheon. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The main fire is brought under control, 28 minutes after it started, with 110 personnel and 31 vehicles deployed. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The fire is fully extinguished, about 50 minutes after it began. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]