Investigated Vibration Caused by Broken Cooling Fan Blade
People Re-enter Building Around 2:12 PM... "No Signs of Collapse"
[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Fire authorities responded to reports that the Le Meilleur Building located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was shaking. Following evacuation announcements, about 1,000 people voluntarily evacuated, and firefighters rescued four individuals. The vibration was caused by a broken cooling fan blade, and there were no signs of collapse, according to the fire department.
At around 10:24 a.m. on the 1st, the Jongno Fire Station received multiple reports that the 9th to 12th floors of the building had been shaking for more than five minutes and dispatched personnel to the scene. Command vehicles and firefighting personnel arrived at the site at approximately 10:29 a.m. and began evacuation procedures. The fire department deployed 16 pieces of equipment and 173 personnel.
That day, the fire department explained that the building shook due to the breakage of a cooling fan blade on one of the nine cooling towers located on the rooftop of Building A of the Le Meilleur Building, specifically the one positioned farthest to the right. Jeong Byeong-ik, Director of the Urban Management Bureau of Jongno-gu, said, "A 1-meter-long blade broke, causing an imbalance that resulted in vibrations lasting five minutes in the building." He added, "The cooling fan, installed when the building was completed in 2007, is believed to have broken due to aging."
He also noted that the building's reinforced concrete structure, which is sensitive to vibrations, may have contributed to the shaking. There were no signs of building collapse, and it was announced that all nine cooling fan blades would be replaced in consultation with the building management office.
At 10:24 a.m. on the 1st, the fire department was dispatched after receiving a report that the Le Meilleur Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul was shaking. It was investigated that the building shook due to one blade of a cooling fan out of nine breaking. (Provided by Jongno-gu Office, Seoul)
About 50 people who initially felt the shaking evacuated first, and after the fire department's evacuation announcement, about 1,000 people voluntarily evacuated. The fire department blocked access to the building's interior, and at around 12:36 p.m., six building safety inspection experts arrived and conducted an internal inspection for about an hour. After completing the inspection, the fire department allowed people to re-enter the building at approximately 2:12 p.m.
There were no casualties. However, the fire department deployed three rescue teams to assist four individuals?two men and two women?with mobility difficulties in evacuating. None of them sustained serious injuries, and it is reported that they were not transported to a hospital. Among those rescued, an 80-year-old woman identified as Ms. A said she did not feel the building shaking and, although she heard the evacuation announcement, she found it difficult to move and could not evacuate on her own.
The Le Meilleur Building was completed in 2007 and is a 20-story building consisting of commercial spaces on floors 1 to 5 and officetels on floors 6 to 20. The building houses a total of 883 units, including 529 officetel units and 354 commercial units. The Jongno-gu Office stated that the Le Meilleur Building underwent a safety inspection in March of this year.
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