Busan Banyan Tree Construction Site Fire Joint Inspection... "Ignition Around PT Room Piping"

Yonhap News

The ignition point was identified during a joint investigation into the fire at the 'Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan' complex resort construction site.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's forensic team, fire department, National Forensic Service, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and National Disaster and Safety Institute conducted a joint investigation at the fire scene for two hours early on the 16th.

A police official explained, "The ignition point was confirmed to be around the PT room piping, and the cause of the fire will be finally concluded after verifying the statements of the workers at the time and the site entry times on CCTV."

The PT room is known to be a space for managing, maintaining, and repairing piping. Six people died on the first floor of Building B, where the PT room is located, due to this fire.

Before the joint investigation, the police had already secured a statement from the fire reporter who witnessed the fire breaking out while interior work was being done near the PT room on the first floor of Building B.

So far, it is presumed that sparks from cutting and welding piping at the first-floor construction site ignited flammable interior materials.

Additionally, although a management staff member testified that the sprinkler system operated normally, the police explained that further review is needed based on the joint investigation results.

A police official said, "So far, only the initial ignition point has been confirmed," adding, "We plan to continue additional reviews and investigations based on the investigation results."

An autopsy for all the deceased is scheduled for the 17th.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a dedicated team to accelerate the investigation related to this fire accident. The Busan Employment and Labor Office is verifying whether there was a violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

The fire occurred around 10:51 a.m. on the 14th at the 'Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan' construction site near Orangdae Park in the Osiria Tourist Complex, Gijang-gun, Busan. The fire resulted in six workers dead and 27 others suffering minor injuries such as smoke inhalation. The fire was extinguished at 6:53 p.m. on the 14th, after about eight hours.