Fire at Busan Banyan Tree Hotel, Special Investigation Team Formed by Police and Prosecutors

Focused Investigation on First-Floor Workers Where Fire Started

Yonhap News

Investigative authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the fire at the Banyan Tree Hotel construction site in Busan.

On the 15th, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency formed a dedicated team to accelerate the investigation related to the fire accident. The investigation team consists of about 30 members, including the head of the Busan Police Mobile Investigation Unit as the team leader and personnel from the forensic investigation unit.

The Busan Eastern District Prosecutors' Office also established a dedicated investigation team, led by the district chief prosecutor, comprising 10 prosecutors and 15 investigators.

The Busan Employment and Labor Office is also verifying whether there was a violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The investigation is expected to include the construction company Samjeong Enterprise and subcontractors to which the deceased workers belonged.

The police plan to confirm how the fire started by interviewing workers who evacuated while working on the first floor at the time. They are also expected to check the types and quantities of interior finishing materials stacked throughout the site. It is necessary to verify whether safety devices such as sprinklers and alarms were operational and whether worker safety training was properly conducted.

The police, forensic fire investigation team, fire authorities, National Forensic Service, and National Disaster Safety Institute plan to conduct a joint inspection on the morning of the 16th.

Meanwhile, at around 10:51 a.m. the previous day, a fire broke out at the 'Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan' construction site near Orangdae Park in the Osiria Tourist Complex, Gijang-gun, Busan, resulting in the deaths of six workers and injuries to 27 others due to smoke inhalation and minor wounds.