Two fires broke out at buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam, resulting in one person in cardiac arrest and 18 injuries. Both locations were identified as patent law firm offices, prompting police to investigate the possibility of arson.
According to Yonhap News, the first fire ignited at 11:54 a.m. on the third floor of the Sinmyeong Building. One person was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, and 10 others sustained injuries. Approximately 60 individuals in the building evacuated on their own.
Just seven minutes later, at 12:01 p.m., another fire erupted on the fourth floor of the Hanyang Building, located about 200 meters away. Eight people were injured in this incident, three of whom exhibited severe respiratory distress. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Gangnam Severance Hospital and Chung-Ang University Hospital.
The fire department responded to reports of someone setting a fire, issuing a first-level response and deploying 115 personnel and 56 pieces of equipment to combat the flames. The fire at the Hanyang Building was fully extinguished by 12:35 p.m., while the blaze at the Sinmyeong Building was brought under control by 1:12 p.m. Police restricted vehicle access from the intersection of Yeoksam-ro and Wuseong Apartments to the Changupga Street intersection to facilitate firefighting efforts.
According to fire officials, among the two seriously injured individuals, one received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while being transported to the hospital, and the other suffered severe facial burns and was taken to a burn specialist hospital.
Witnesses described a chaotic evacuation as flames and smoke spread rapidly. One bystander who saw the fire at the Sinmyeong Building stated, "The flames started on the third floor and quickly shattered the glass, spreading to the upper floors." Another witness at the Hanyang Building recounted, "Smoke erupted from the break room like a battery exploding, and as I tried to evacuate, black smoke surged within seconds. I attempted to head toward the entrance, but the smoke was overwhelming, so I broke a window to escape."
Footage showed individuals escaping through a third-floor window using ladders set up by firefighters. Another person was seen breaking a window with a golf club to assess the situation before re-entering the building.
The connection between the two fires has yet to be confirmed. Fire officials stated in a briefing that, "So far, the two fires have been determined to be unrelated, but the final investigation results will be announced after police inquiries." They also noted that both fires originated inside the buildings.
Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the simultaneous fires in nearby buildings while considering the possibility of arson and tracking the suspect's movements. They plan to investigate the exact cause of ignition, whether the sprinklers activated, and any potential links between the two incidents.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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