Officials from police, fire authorities and the National Forensic Service conduct an on-site inspection May 1 at the scene of an apartment fire in Uiwang, South Korea. [Photo=Yonhap]
Authorities said a gas explosion is the leading suspected cause of an apartment fire in Uiwang, south of Seoul, that killed two people and injured six others.
Police, fire officials and the National Forensic Service inspected the unit on the 14th floor where the fire started and confirmed the kitchen gas valve was open, officials said. With no flammable materials found at the scene, they are presuming the blaze was triggered by a gas explosion.
The fire broke out with an explosion about 10:30 a.m. the previous day in the 20-story apartment building with one basement level. A man in his 60s who lived in the 14th-floor unit, identified only as A, died after falling. His wife, in her 50s, was found dead in a bathroom. Authorities believe she had already died before the fire.
Six other residents suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.
After receiving the report, fire authorities issued a Level 1 response and deployed about 30 pieces of equipment and about 110 personnel. The fire was fully extinguished about two hours later, at 12:35 p.m.
A note was reportedly found on A’s clothing describing personal despair, including financial hardship.
Police, fire officials and the National Forensic Service inspected the unit on the 14th floor where the fire started and confirmed the kitchen gas valve was open, officials said. With no flammable materials found at the scene, they are presuming the blaze was triggered by a gas explosion.
The fire broke out with an explosion about 10:30 a.m. the previous day in the 20-story apartment building with one basement level. A man in his 60s who lived in the 14th-floor unit, identified only as A, died after falling. His wife, in her 50s, was found dead in a bathroom. Authorities believe she had already died before the fire.
Six other residents suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.
After receiving the report, fire authorities issued a Level 1 response and deployed about 30 pieces of equipment and about 110 personnel. The fire was fully extinguished about two hours later, at 12:35 p.m.
A note was reportedly found on A’s clothing describing personal despair, including financial hardship.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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