"Lost a Good Son" Tears Flow Endlessly
Physical Fight with Sigongsa CEO... Transported by Ambulance
Joint Investigation Underway to Determine Fire Cause
At the site of a fire at a logistics warehouse construction site in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where a large-scale human casualty occurred, police, fire authorities, and officials from the National Forensic Service are conducting a joint inspection on the morning of the 30th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy (Icheon) = Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the second day of the 'Icheon Logistics Warehouse Fire' disaster that claimed 38 lives, the site ravaged by the flames was filled only with the grief, pain, and anger of the victims' families. Meanwhile, a joint investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire. As it became increasingly clear that the cause of the large fire was 'man-made (人災)', once again, a ridiculous 'safety negligence' took the lives of precious family members and neighbors.
At around midnight on the 30th, at the Moga Indoor Gymnasium in Moga-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a temporary facility was set up for the bereaved families across from the fire site. The place was filled with silence and tears from the victims' families.
A bereaved family member in their 50s at the gymnasium said, "I lost my younger sibling and young nephew at the same time," and added, "He was a good child who left early for work to help support the family, but now his face is unrecognizable," breaking down in tears that had been held back. A mother who lost her son sobbed, "Now I can only see my son in photos...".
The families' anger exploded during a briefing by Lee Mo, CEO of the construction company Geonwoo. At around 1:55 p.m. that day, Lee knelt on the stage of the gymnasium and apologized, saying, "I was wrong. I am sorry," and "I will do everything I can."
However, no future measures that the families hoped for were presented. The families strongly demanded accountability for the fire, asking, "Did you make them work without safety personnel?", "Shouldn't welding have been prohibited?", and "Please be honest with us." When CEO Lee came down from the stage without further comment, some angry family members rushed forward and a physical altercation began.
At the Mogacheyuk Park near the site of a fire at a logistics warehouse construction site in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where a large-scale human casualty occurred, the construction company representative is leaving while receiving protests from the victims' families on the afternoon of the 30th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Lee quickly left the scene but soon fainted and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The families blocked the ambulance, calling it a "feigned illness," and the police intervened to maintain order at the scene. Afterwards, executives from Geonwoo and the families held a private meeting at the gymnasium.
At the logistics warehouse fire site across the gymnasium, filled with wailing and anger, a joint investigation team composed of 45 members from seven organizations?including the police, fire department, National Forensic Service, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency?began the first on-site investigation at around 11 a.m. that day. The investigation team started examining from the presumed origin point of the fire on the second basement floor, inspecting various parts of the building to determine exactly where the flames began and to identify the precise fire source.
The fire authorities estimate that the fire was caused by an explosion of vapor. Sparks ignited the vapor, causing an explosion that quickly escalated into a large blaze. Currently, it is suspected that sparks generated during welding or cutting work inside met the vapor, triggering the explosion. The investigation team is reportedly focusing closely on this aspect.
Meanwhile, it was finally confirmed that 38 people died and 10 were injured in the Icheon logistics warehouse fire that occurred the previous afternoon. At the time of the fire, 78 workers from nine companies were working at the site.
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