A resident who lost a home in a recent apartment fire in Uiwang, south of Seoul, has shared the family’s story online, drawing sympathy as authorities investigate a blast that killed two people and injured six.
In a post on an online community, the writer, identified only as A, said the fire spread quickly from a lower floor and heavily damaged the parents’ unit. “My parents’ home, where they lived for more than 20 years, burned down overnight and we lost everything,” A wrote. Clothing, bedding, furniture and other essentials were destroyed, leaving little to salvage, the post said.
“People said we might be able to save something, but when we actually went there, nothing was left,” A wrote, adding the family felt numb and devastated, especially watching the parents try not to ask their children for help.
A said the family did not have fire insurance and compensation would not be enough to replace household goods. The writer said they were checking what help might be available from local government and public agencies, but support for appliances and furniture appeared limited. A asked readers to share information on assistance for fire victims or corporate donations, noting other affected residents, including those upstairs, likely faced similar losses.
The post spread online, prompting calls for more practical support for households hit by the fire. Some commenters also stressed the need for fire insurance in multiunit buildings.
Police said the fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. on April 30 at an apartment building in Naesu-dong, Uiwang, accompanied by an explosion-like sound. A man in his 60s, identified as A, fell and died, and his wife, identified as B and in her 50s, was found dead in the unit’s bathroom.
Police said a note was found on the man’s clothing describing personal despair, including financial difficulties. A police official said no flammable materials were found at the scene and a gas explosion was suspected. The official said an autopsy indicated the wife appeared to have died before the fire started.
The building has 20 stories above ground and one basement level, with a total floor area of about 8,800 square meters and 78 households, police said. The apartment complex was completed in 2002, when sprinklers were required only on floors 16 and above, meaning they were not installed on the 14th floor where the fire occurred.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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