Sangmin Lee Orders One-on-One Dedicated Support for Victims
16 Dead So Far... 6 Missing Being Searched
The government activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) for a government-wide response following a fire at the Arisel factory, a primary battery manufacturer in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, which resulted in multiple casualties and missing persons.
Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and head of the CDSCH, held a meeting at 12:36 PM on the 24th to discuss rapid accident recovery measures with related agencies. Minister Lee emphasized, "To prevent additional casualties, related agencies and local governments should closely cooperate and focus on preventing the spread of damage," adding, "Mobilize all available personnel and equipment, including firefighters, to fully suppress the fire and rescue survivors, and pay special attention to the safety of rescue workers."
Minister of the Interior and Safety, Lee Sang-min, visited the site of a fire at a primary battery manufacturing factory located in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 24th and received an explanation from fire officials. [Image source=Yonhap News]
After the meeting, Minister Lee visited the fire site to check on the firefighting and search and rescue operations. He requested that one-on-one dedicated public officials be assigned to each victim to provide full support and that thorough measures be taken to support the families of the victims, including psychological treatment. He also urged related agencies to provide prompt medical treatment to the injured.
The fire started at approximately 10:31 AM that day. The fire department issued a Level 2 emergency response preemptively, as the fire occurred at a facility handling hazardous chemicals and there were concerns about casualties and fire spread, and proceeded with firefighting operations. Level 2 response means an alarm involving 3 to 7 fire stations mobilizing 31 to 50 pieces of equipment.
The main flames were brought under control around 3:10 PM, 4 hours and 40 minutes after the fire started, and rescue teams were deployed.
On the 4th, firefighters are recovering bodies at the scene of a fire at a primary battery manufacturing factory located in Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to the fire department, as of 5 PM that day, a total of 16 people had died. One person was found in cardiac arrest, and the remaining 15 were missing after failing to evacuate outside and were later found deceased during search operations. Six people were injured and are receiving treatment at hospitals. The fire department is continuing search operations to determine the status of the remaining six missing persons presumed to still be inside the factory.
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