Fire at Seoul National University Hospital Cancer Center... "Presumed internal short circuit in the consultation room" (Comprehensive)

640 People Evacuated Urgently... No Casualties Reported
Hospital States "Other Floors Have Resumed Medical Services"

At the Cancer Center of Seoul National University Hospital located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a report of smoke was received, leading to the emergency evacuation of 640 people. The fire was extinguished by itself before firefighters arrived, but thick smoke spread throughout the building, prompting fire authorities to explain that they are "ventilating the interior smoke."

According to fire authorities, a fire broke out on the 2nd floor of the Cancer Center at Seoul National University Hospital at 3:04 PM on the 23rd. Upon receiving the report, fire authorities dispatched 25 fire trucks and 89 personnel. The fire was self-extinguished within 3 minutes at around 3:07 PM, before firefighters arrived. However, due to the thick smoke spreading inside the building, 640 people inside were evacuated. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Seoul National University Hospital, the 2nd floor of the Cancer Center is not a space for inpatients but houses outpatient clinics for patients visiting for consultations. The smoke originated from the cooperative consultation room, where patient consultations and counseling take place, but it was empty at the time.

A hospital official stated, "After the evacuated individuals returned, a smell was detected in other consultation rooms near the smoke-affected area, so patients were moved to other floors for treatment," adding, "Consultation rooms far from the incident site on the same floor have resumed normal operations." They further said, "Starting tomorrow, all consultation rooms except the smoke-affected one are scheduled to operate normally."

Fire authorities believe the fire originated from wiring connected to a radiator in the cooperative consultation room on the 2nd floor of the Cancer Center. A fire official said, "We suspect the smoke was caused by electrical leakage or a short circuit in the radiator wiring, but the exact cause is under investigation," and added, "Currently, the building's ventilation system is being used to remove the internal smoke."