Daejeon Hyundai Outlet Fire, Joint On-Site Inspection by Related Agencies on the 27th

On the morning of the 26th, the body of a missing person found dead at the fire site of Daejeon Hyundai Outlet is being transported. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] An on-site investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire at Daejeon Hyundai Premium Outlet.

According to the Daejeon Police Agency on the 27th, the on-site investigation will be conducted jointly by the police, the National Forensic Service, the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, and the fire authorities starting at 10 a.m. today.

The investigation is expected to focus on the loading dock area on the basement first floor where the flames originated.

According to the on-site CCTV footage, flames appeared around a 1-ton cargo truck as the driver was unloading goods after parking at the basement first floor loading dock. The footage also shows stacks of cardboard boxes and clothing around the loading dock where the truck was parked.

Eyewitness testimonies from those who evacuated during the fire also support the fact that the flames started near the basement first floor loading dock. One witness reportedly said, “I heard a clicking sound, and shortly after, black smoke began rising from the end of the loading dock.”

The on-site investigation will focus not only on determining the cause of the fire but also on verifying whether fire safety facilities such as sprinklers were functioning properly at the time of the incident.

In particular, the investigation will examine whether the issues pointed out during the fire inspection in June have been addressed. During that inspection, Hyundai Outlet was cited for a total of 24 issues, including defective wiring (such as disconnections) of fire detectors in the basement first floor parking lot and replacement of fire alarm bells around the stores.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Outlet fire occurred around 7:45 a.m. the previous day, resulting in eight casualties. Among them, seven died, and one person sustained serious injuries and is currently hospitalized but remains unconscious.

Additionally, more than 110 people who were in the outlet building and nearby lodging facilities evacuated urgently during the fire.