Fire at Busan Banyan Tree Construction Site... 6 Dead (Comprehensive Report 2)

Rescued by Helicopter from Rooftop
Seven Suffer Minor Injuries

At around 10:51 a.m. on the 14th, a fire broke out at the Banyan Tree Hotel construction site in Gijang-gun, Busan, resulting in 6 deaths so far.

According to the Fire Agency, a total of 127 pieces of equipment, including 3 fire helicopters, and 352 firefighters were deployed to the scene. As a result of the firefighting efforts, the fire was initially extinguished at around 1:34 p.m. on the same day, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes after the fire brigade arrived at the site at 11 a.m.

Due to concerns over multiple casualties, the fire department issued a Level 2 response alert around 12 p.m. Level 2 response mobilizes 51 to 80 pieces of equipment from 8 to 14 fire stations.

Yonhap News

Fourteen people who had taken refuge on the rooftop were rescued by fire helicopters, but 6 of them were found in cardiac arrest and died. Seven others were reported to have sustained minor injuries.

The fire authorities estimate that the fire started near the insulation material by the swimming pool on the first floor of the construction site.

Ko Ki-dong, Acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, issued an urgent directive regarding the fire, stating, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor, Fire Agency, National Police Agency, Busan City, Gijang-gun, and other related agencies should mobilize all available equipment and personnel to fully focus on fire suppression and rescue operations." He added, "We will do our best to prevent any safety accidents involving firefighters during the firefighting process, and the police will ensure thorough control of the area surrounding the fire scene."