Elderly People Mainly Admitted to Nursing Homes
A fire broke out in a mixed-use residential and commercial building housing a nursing home in Incheon.
At around 6:28 PM on the 11th, a fire occurred in the basement of a mixed-use building in Sungui-dong, Michuhol-gu. Due to this fire, 42 people, including elderly residents in their 80s at the nursing home located on the 4th floor of the building, inhaled smoke or complained of heart-related symptoms and were transported to hospitals.
Most of those taken to the hospital were elderly aged 65 or older, including a woman in her 90s. The first witness to the accident reportedly called 119, saying "the fire started in the sauna on basement level 1." However, Yonhap News reported that the sauna was actually located on the 3rd floor, not in the basement.
The Incheon Fire Headquarters, considering the fire in the building housing the nursing home, issued a 'Response Level 1' alarm at around 6:56 PM, mobilizing all personnel from the local fire station. About 180 firefighters and over 100 vehicles, including pump trucks, were deployed, and the fire was completely extinguished at around 9:32 PM, three hours after it started.
The fire occurred in a mixed-use building with commercial spaces and apartments attached. The commercial area housed not only the nursing home but also about 20 other establishments such as a mart and a billiard hall.
The fire authorities believe the fire started in the basement level 1 parking lot and plan to investigate the cause. An official told the media, "We rescued a total of 43 people, including those who inhaled smoke, and all but one were transported to hospitals," adding, "Most of them were elderly residents at the nursing home."
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