On the morning of Saturday, May 31, a fire broke out on the Seoul subway due to arson.
Although there were no major casualties, several passengers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and other injuries. The arson suspect was apprehended at the scene by police.
According to police and fire authorities, the fire occurred at around 8:43 a.m. on May 31 inside a subway train between Yeouinaru Station and Mapo Station on Seoul Subway Line 5.
Approximately 400 passengers evacuated through the tunnel, and 21 of them were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation and ankle fractures. No other casualties have been reported as of now.
The train operator and some passengers initially contained the blaze using fire extinguishers, and the fire was completely extinguished at around 10:24 a.m. A total of 230 personnel, including 166 firefighters and 60 police officers, along with 68 pieces of firefighting equipment, were mobilized to the scene.
Due to the fire, trains passed through Mapo Station and Yeouinaru Station without stopping, and service was suspended between Yeouido Station and Aeogae Station before normal operations resumed at 10:06 a.m.
At around 9:45 a.m., police arrested a man in his 60s, suspected of arson, near Yeouinaru Station in the act.
According to witnesses, the man boarded the subway carrying a can of oil and used a lighter torch to set fire to clothing and other items.
The police are conducting a forensic investigation at the scene and questioning the suspect about the circumstances of the arson.
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