A fire broke out in an apartment parking lot in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
According to the fire authorities on the 17th, the fire started at around 9:10 p.m. in the piloti parking lot of an apartment in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
As a result of the fire, three people were found in cardiac arrest, one person suffered severe burns, and another had a consciousness disorder, with a total of 17 individuals sustaining serious injuries. Additionally, 27 people were transported to the hospital due to smoke inhalation. The fire authorities set up a medical emergency station at the scene.
The fire authorities issued a level 2 response and deployed 43 pieces of equipment and 110 firefighters. They brought the large flames under control by 9:56 p.m. and completely extinguished it by 10:32 p.m. A level 2 response involves mobilizing 51 to 80 pieces of equipment from 8 to 14 fire stations.
Gwangmyeong City sent out a safety text stating, "Be cautious and divert nearby vehicles."
Kim Min-jae, the acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, directed that "The Korea National Fire Agency, the Korean National Police Agency, and local governments must mobilize all available personnel and equipment to focus on rescue and firefighting efforts while also paying special attention to the safety of rescue workers."
The police plan to investigate the cause of the fire once the extinguishing operations are completed. The fire reporter reportedly stated, "The fire started at the ceiling of the first-floor parking lot."