Incheon Cheongna Apartment Residents Complain of 'Skin Rash and Urticaria Symptoms'
Residents of an apartment complex in Cheongna, Incheon, who evacuated due to an electric vehicle fire and returned home after a month, are expressing anxiety over unexplained skin rash symptoms and other health concerns.
According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, the operation of the temporary shelter at the Cheongna 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center completely ended when 30 people from 10 households left the facility around the 30th of last month. In the early stages of the fire damage, the number of displaced residents surged, with about 800 people staying in 10 temporary housing facilities. However, as tap water and electricity supply were restored and cleaning was carried out for each household, more people returned home.
However, residents who returned to their apartments are concerned that dust scattered throughout their homes could adversely affect the health of growing children. It has been reported that not only children but also adults are experiencing unexplained skin rashes, hives, eye redness, and fever symptoms.
Recently, in the residents' online group chat, cases of damage have been continuously reported, such as "I received treatment for skin rashes and hives," and "My daughter's eyes were severely swollen, so we visited an ophthalmologist." Resident Jeong (39) said, "Although it looks like cleaning has been completed on the surface, dust still remains in many places," adding, "A few days ago, I entered the house first and developed a rash, so my wife and children have not been able to come back yet."
In the underground parking lot area where the fire occurred, restoration work and exhaust operations to remove toxic gases to the surface are ongoing, making it difficult to open windows freely.
In households with young children, cases of leaving the home again to find short-term accommodation are increasing. Kim (43), who has elementary school children, decided to rent an officetel for a month. Kim said that there are quite a few cases where residents have not yet returned home or have returned but are leaving the apartment to find short-term lodging. He lamented, "Although we replaced all the wallpaper and flooring, the household fine dust meter still shows harmful gas concentrations far above the standard," adding, "In a situation where we do not know what adverse effects there might be on the children's health, residents have no choice but to take care of their own health."
Meanwhile, the fire occurred on the morning of the 1st of last month in the underground first-floor parking lot of an apartment in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon. Twenty-three residents and others were hospitalized after inhaling smoke, 87 vehicles were burned, and 783 vehicles were scorched.
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