Fires at two Seoul Yeoksam-dong buildings injure 19; police probe arson
In short
Fires broke out seven minutes apart on 20 October in two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, injuring 19 people. One person in cardiac arrest regained circulation. Police said they are investigating on suspicion of arson, and reports said both fires started on floors housing patent law firms.
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Fires broke out at two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on 20 October, injuring 19 people in total. Fire authorities said a fire was reported at about 11:54 on the third floor of Sinmyeong Building. Another started at about 12:01 on the fourth floor of the nearby Hanyang Building, seven minutes later. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 14 , 16 , 20 ]
At Sinmyeong Building, 11 people were injured: two seriously and nine lightly, all taken to hospital. One of the seriously injured was in cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital while receiving CPR; Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said the person's circulation was restored. The other seriously injured person suffered severe facial burns. About 60 people evacuated the building on their own. Chosun Ilbo described the cardiac-arrest patient as a woman in her 30s, while Hankook Ilbo said a woman in her 40s. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 14 , 20 ]
Eight people were injured at Hanyang Building, and the fire there was fully put out at about 12:35. Reports differ on severity. Newsis, Kukmin Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun said all eight were lightly injured. Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said three were later reclassified as seriously injured after their condition worsened during transport to hospital, and Chosun Ilbo reported three serious and five minor. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 14 , 20 ]
Fire authorities issued response level 1 at about 12:04, according to Dong-A Ilbo, Korea Economic Daily and Hankook Ilbo; Seoul Economic Daily gave 12:03. Kukmin Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis reported 225 personnel and 56 vehicles or pieces of equipment deployed, while earlier reports gave other figures. The Sinmyeong Building fire was brought under initial control at about 13:12, and Chosun Ilbo reported it fully extinguished at 14:20. Gangnam-gu office sent a disaster safety text asking nearby vehicles to detour. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 20 ]
Suseo Police Station said it is investigating the fires on suspicion of arson. Chosun Ilbo reported that patent law firms occupy both the third floor of Sinmyeong Building and the fourth floor of Hanyang Building, and that the first report to authorities said someone appeared to have set a fire. It said it was known that a man believed to be in his 50s entered the patent law office at Hanyang Building carrying a thinner can before the fire. Hankook Ilbo said police are tracking a suspect. [ 2 , 14 , 32 ]
Kim Hyun-seok (김현석) of Gangnam Fire Station said at a briefing that the two fires were found to be unrelated, and that police will announce the final result of the fire investigation. Dong-A Ilbo noted that fire authorities initially said the two had no connection before police said they were investigating arson suspicion. Fire officials said they are still investigating the cause and property damage. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 20 ]
Why it matters
Police are treating the two fires as a possible arson case, while a fire official said the fires were found to be unrelated. The cause is still under investigation, and police are to give the final result.
Key facts
- A fire was reported at Sinmyeong Building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, at about 11:54 on 20 October, on its third floor. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 20 ]
- A second fire started at about 12:01 on the fourth floor of the nearby Hanyang Building. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 20 ]
- In total 19 people were injured; 11 at Sinmyeong Building (2 seriously, 9 lightly) and 8 at Hanyang Building. [ 3 , 6 , 14 , 20 , 22 ]
- One person at Sinmyeong Building was in cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital with CPR; circulation was later restored. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 14 , 20 ]
- About 60 people at Sinmyeong Building evacuated on their own. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 20 , 22 ]
- Fire authorities issued response level 1, and 225 personnel and 56 vehicles or pieces of equipment were reported deployed to the two fires. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 20 ]
- Suseo Police Station said it is investigating on suspicion of arson. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 32 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fires broke out at Sinmyeong Building (third floor, about 11:54) and Hanyang Building (fourth floor, about 12:01) in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, on 20 October. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 , 20 ]
- A total of 19 people were injured across the two fires. [ 3 , 6 , 14 , 16 , 22 ]
- At Sinmyeong Building, 2 people were seriously injured and 9 lightly, all taken to hospital; one of the seriously injured had been in cardiac arrest and regained circulation. [ 3 , 6 , 14 , 20 , 22 ]
- The Hanyang Building fire was fully put out at about 12:35. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 20 ]
- The Sinmyeong Building fire was brought under initial control at about 13:12. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 14 , 20 ]
- Police said they are investigating the fires on suspicion of arson. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 32 ]
Still unclear
- How many of the eight injured at Hanyang Building were seriously hurt. Newsis, Kukmin Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Asia Economy said all eight were lightly injured, while Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said three were reclassified as serious after their condition worsened during transport, and Chosun Ilbo reported three serious and five minor.
- The age and sex of the person who went into cardiac arrest. Chosun Ilbo reported a woman in her 30s, Hankook Ilbo a woman in her 40s, and a Korea Economic Daily report a person in their 30s; a Seoul Shinmun headline referred to a man.
- Whether the two fires are connected. Gangnam Fire Station's Kim Hyun-seok (김현석) said the two fires were found to be unrelated and that police will announce the final result of the fire investigation, while police said they are investigating arson suspicion and Hankook Ilbo said police are checking a suspect's movements.
- The role of a man seen with a thinner can. Chosun Ilbo said it was known that a man believed to be in his 50s entered the patent law office at Hanyang Building carrying a thinner can before the fire; this appears in one report only.
- The cause of the fires and the extent of property damage. Fire authorities said they are investigating the cause and the damage.
- Deployment numbers. Most reports gave 225 personnel and 56 vehicles, but Seoul Economic Daily gave 123 personnel and 37 vehicles, Korea Economic Daily 30 personnel and 103 pieces of equipment, and Hankook Ilbo 115 personnel and 56 pieces of equipment for the Sinmyeong Building fire.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A fire is reported on the third floor of Sinmyeong Building. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 20 ]
- A fire starts on the fourth floor of Hanyang Building. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 20 ]
- Fire authorities issue response level 1 (Seoul Economic Daily gave 12:03). [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 14 , 26 ]
- The Hanyang Building fire is fully put out. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 20 ]
- The Sinmyeong Building fire is brought under initial control. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 14 , 20 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported the Sinmyeong Building fire fully extinguished. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap headline reports both fires were at patent law firms and that arson was seen as a possibility. [ 27 ]