"Arrived Immediately After Hearing Fire News"... Over 300 Heroes Visit 'Arisel Factory'

Over 300 Participants Including Volunteer Groups and Citizens in Hwaseong Area

In Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, local volunteers continue to visit to help overcome the damage caused by the 'Arisel Factory Fire Accident.'

According to Hwaseong-si on the 8th, more than 300 citizens participated in volunteer activities to overcome the damage since the accident occurred on the 24th of last month.

Immediately after the accident, the Hwaseong Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Hwaseong District Council of the Korean Red Cross Volunteer Association launched disaster relief activities at the site with about 60 volunteers. Han Gyu-yeop, president of the Hwaseong Volunteer Fire Brigade, which has been continuing volunteer activities from the day of the accident until now, said, "As soon as I heard the news of the fire, I headed to the site," adding, "I want to help even a little with the damage situation, so I continue to volunteer."

At the site of the Arisel factory fire accident, members of the Hwaseong City District Council of the Korean Red Cross Volunteer Society are preparing lunch boxes to support firefighters, police officers, and others.
[Photo by Hwaseong City]

Moon Cheon-sim, president of the Hwaseong District Council of the Korean Red Cross Volunteer Association, who carried out relief efforts at the site, also stated, "We will stand with the personnel working on accident recovery at the site until the end to overcome the accident." Volunteers have been providing snacks and water to firefighters, police officers, and disaster personnel who have been working hard on disaster recovery at the site since the accident occurred, and helped guide fire trucks to ensure quick dispatch of the fire brigade.

Since the 26th of last month, when the incense altar and rest area for the affected families were set up, volunteers have been stationed at five locations, including the city hall incense altar, assisting visitors with guidance and flower offerings. Shin Sang-hee, head of the Hwaseong City Autonomous Disaster Prevention Group, said, "I hope the efforts of the volunteers can bring some comfort to the victims of the accident."

Meanwhile, Hwaseong-si plans to strengthen the functions and roles of the Integrated Volunteer Support Group, which operates during large-scale disasters, to establish a coordination and management system for volunteer response, and to expand preferential treatment and support for disaster response volunteers, taking this accident as an opportunity.

Jung Myung-geun, mayor of Hwaseong-si, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Our citizens who stand together in times of crisis are true heroes," and added, "Volunteers who dedicate themselves wherever help is needed, such as the accident site, memorial spaces, and rest areas for bereaved families, are the top contributors to overcoming the crisis."