"Major Disaster Averted" Busan Butane Gas Explosion Occurs on Pedestrian Sidewalk

Butane Gas Over 500kg Without Local Government Notification

It has been revealed that the butane gas explosion accident that recently occurred in the heart of Busan city took place on a sidewalk, not in an empty lot.

According to initial fire footage obtained by Yonhap News on the 3rd, the fire started on a sidewalk paved with red-colored paving blocks. Soon after, the butane gas stored on the sidewalk caused a chain explosion, resulting in a large fire that burned 10 vehicles and shattered the glass windows of a mart.

Reports indicate that the butane gas was stored on a sidewalk where citizens pass by. Checking the lot number 3598-6 in Myeongji-dong, the location where the butane gas was stored, it was confirmed that the owner of the road (sidewalk) is the Gangseo District Office of Busan.

At around 11:36 a.m. on the 31st of last month, a fire presumed to have originated from stacked butane gas canisters broke out at a food material mart in Myeongji New Town, Gangseo-gu, Busan, leaving debris scattered throughout the fire scene.
[Image provided by Yonhap News Agency, Busan Fire Headquarters]

It appears that the mart stored thousands of butane gas canisters, which are hazardous materials, on the sidewalk under the jurisdiction of the district office rather than on private property. The mart reportedly stated that ahead of a discount event scheduled for next week, they unloaded 5,600 butane gas canisters from vehicles and temporarily stacked them on pallets. To store more than 500 kg of household butane gas, permission for storage location must be obtained from the local government.

However, it was confirmed that no separate report had been filed with the Gangseo District Office. A Gangseo District official told Yonhap News, "No report has been received, but we have not yet confirmed the exact number or whether the amount exceeds 500 kg."

The police and fire authorities are focusing on the theory that the fire started when a cigarette flame ignited the butane gas stacked on the sidewalk. The police confirmed a man, presumed to be a delivery company employee for the mart, discarding a cigarette butt near the ignition point, and plan to conduct further investigation and file charges for arson.

Meanwhile, the explosion incident occurred on the sidewalk in front of a food material mart in Myeongji International New City, Gangseo District, Busan, on the 31st of last month. Thousands of butane gas canisters exploded, damaging about 10 vehicles and the mart’s glass windows.