Fire in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo jjokbang district kills man in his 50s, injures one
In short
A fire broke out on the first floor of a building in a jjokbang (tiny-room housing) district in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, around midday on October 8, killing a man in his 50s and leaving another resident with minor injuries. Nine people escaped on their own, and firefighters fully put out the fire at about 1:55 p.m. Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause.
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A fire broke out on the first floor of a building in a jjokbang (tiny-room housing) district in Yeongdeungpo-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, at about 12:30 p.m. on October 8, killing a man in his 50s, Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and Newsis reported; Chosun Ilbo cited fire authorities and the Yeongdeungpo District Office, and Newsis cited fire authorities. Another resident suffered minor injuries, and nine people in the building escaped on their own, Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Newsis reported. Yonhap said the building has five storeys, and Newsis said the man was found dead at the scene. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Fire authorities deployed 81 personnel and 25 pieces of equipment. Chosun Ilbo reported that the main blaze was brought under control at about 1 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after it started, and the outlets reported that the fire was fully extinguished at about 1:55 p.m., which Newsis put at about one hour and 25 minutes after it broke out. Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause and the extent of the damage. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Seoul Economic Daily said the fire service received a report that the fire started after a popping sound, and Newsis said callers reported "a popping sound" and that "something keeps bursting." Hankook Ilbo reported that residents said they heard two bangs before the fire broke out. It also reported that many elderly people living alone in the district cook with portable gas burners and that a lot of butane gas is stored there. None of the outlets named a cause. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Hankook Ilbo's account differs from the others in several details. It put the start of the fire at about 12:40 p.m. and said 18 vehicles and 60 personnel were deployed. It said police and firefighters found a resident collapsed at the scene with no vital signs, presumed dead. According to the newspaper, residents tackled the fire early with nine extinguishers from a church, which kept it from spreading into a large fire, and residents of the second to fourth floors took refuge on the roof before firefighters and police helped them out of the building. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The fire caused a death in a jjokbang district where, according to Hankook Ilbo, many elderly people live alone and store butane gas for portable burners. Residents and callers reported popping sounds before the fire, but the cause has not been determined and is under investigation.
Key facts
- A fire broke out on the first floor of a building in a jjokbang district in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A man in his 50s died; another resident was injured. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Nine people evacuated on their own, according to Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Newsis. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Fire authorities deployed 81 personnel and 25 pieces of equipment and fully extinguished the fire at about 1:55 p.m. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Residents and callers reported popping sounds before or during the fire. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause and the extent of the damage. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire broke out on the first floor of a building in a jjokbang district in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- One resident died in the fire. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The person who died was a man in his 50s. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- One other resident was injured. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Nine people evacuated on their own. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Fire authorities deployed 81 personnel and 25 pieces of equipment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The fire was fully extinguished at about 1:55 p.m. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Popping sounds were reported before or during the fire. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause and the damage. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- When the fire started. Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo, Seoul Economic Daily and Newsis say about 12:30 p.m.; Hankook Ilbo says about 12:40 p.m.
- The size of the firefighting deployment. Four outlets report 81 personnel and 25 pieces of equipment; Hankook Ilbo reports 18 vehicles and 60 personnel.
- How residents left the building. Three outlets say nine people evacuated on their own; Hankook Ilbo says residents of the second to fourth floors fled to the roof and were helped out by firefighters and police.
- The cause of the fire. Authorities are investigating; Hankook Ilbo reported butane gas is widely stored in the district, but no document names a cause.
- Residents' initial firefighting with nine extinguishers from a church. Reported only by Hankook Ilbo.