Fire in District 4 of Guryeong Village Raises Concerns Over Wider Spread
Minister Yoon Orders Full Mobilization of Personnel and Equipment
Mayor Oh Calls for Early Activation of Resident Safety Measures
As of 5 a.m. on January 16, firefighting authorities have been battling a blaze for over four hours in District 4 of Guryeong Village, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hee-keun ordered the full mobilization of all available personnel and equipment, while Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon instructed officials to activate post-fire safety measures for residents in advance.
As the flames intensified, the fire department raised the response level to Stage 2 at around 8:49 a.m. At approximately 5:10 a.m., authorities had already issued a Stage 1 response, concerned that the fire might spread to a nearby hillside.
A fire broke out around 5 a.m. on the 16th in Guryeong Village District 4, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. As the flames grew larger, the fire authorities raised the response level to Stage 2 around 8:49 a.m. The photo shows the scene of the fire on that day. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
The fire department explained that they increased the response level and deployed additional personnel to prevent the fire from spreading to the hillside. It is currently reported that the fire is also spreading to District 5 of Guryeong Village.
A total of 297 firefighters and 85 vehicles have been deployed to the scene. Due to poor visibility, firefighting helicopters have been unable to take off. Authorities expect that helicopters may be able to join the operation after 10 a.m. So far, there have been no reported casualties, and 47 residents from 32 households in District 4 have evacuated.
Guryeong Village, known as the "last shantytown" in the Gangnam area, is slated for redevelopment. As the fire expands to District 5, the number of displaced residents is expected to rise. In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has ordered the full mobilization of all available personnel and equipment. Minister Yoon stated, "All relevant agencies, including the National Fire Agency, the National Police Agency, Seoul City, and Gangnam District, must fully mobilize all available personnel and equipment to focus on rescuing people and extinguishing the fire, and thoroughly check vacant homes to ensure no one is left behind. Please do your utmost to ensure the rapid and thorough evacuation of residents and to prevent any safety accidents among firefighters during the operation."
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has also stepped in to provide support. Mayor Oh emphasized, "With the dry weather, we must make every effort to contain the fire early and prevent embers from spreading to nearby forests." He also requested the immediate implementation of post-fire measures, including temporary housing, medical support, and essential supplies for those displaced.
Under the command of the Emergency Rescue Control Headquarters, Seoul City is currently making every effort to contain the fire by issuing disaster safety text alerts and deploying drones and excavators to prevent the fire from spreading. The city has also set up a temporary shelter for displaced residents at the nearby Guryeong Middle School and arranged emergency accommodations at two locations, including the Western Premier Gangnam Hotel, to provide immediate relief for those affected.
Once the fire is fully extinguished, the fire department plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the exact cause of the blaze. Currently, two lanes on Yangjae-daero leading from the Guryong Tunnel to the entrance of Guryeong Village are closed due to fire response operations.
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