Geumcheon Gas Leak Incident Joint Investigation Completed... Police "Reached Meaningful Results"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junyi Park] The joint on-site investigation conducted by the police and the National Forensic Service regarding the fire extinguishing agent leakage accident at a construction site in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul has been completed.

The joint investigation, which lasted about 3 hours and 20 minutes from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM on the 26th, concluded with Kim Sang-hoon, head of the Scientific Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stating, "We have reached meaningful results, but investigations of related parties remain, and we will finalize the conclusion after receiving additional forensic results."

During the joint investigation, related agencies including the police, National Forensic Service, fire department, and Ministry of Employment and Labor participated together, focusing on identifying the cause of the fire extinguishing agent discharge. They reportedly completed the investigation not only of the generator room on the third basement floor where the deceased were found but also key areas on that floor. The switch operation system was also inspected to determine the possibility of malfunction.

According to the police, the forensic results are expected to take at least four weeks.

The autopsy results for the three deceased conducted on the same day confirmed carbon dioxide poisoning as the cause. A Geumcheon Police Station official stated, "The preliminary autopsy opinion suggests death by asphyxiation due to carbon dioxide poisoning."

Earlier, at around 8:52 AM on the 23rd, the accident occurred when the fire extinguishing agent was released from the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system in the generator room on the third basement floor and the electrical room on the fourth basement floor at the construction site in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul.

So far, there have been three fatalities related to the accident, with a total of 21 casualties including one seriously injured and 17 with minor injuries.