Authorities Focus on Clearing Embers and Managing Aftermath
Seoul City Sets Up Temporary Shelter for Displaced Residents
The National Fire Agency announced that it brought a major fire in Guryong Village, Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul under control at approximately 11:34 a.m. on January 16, following a swift and comprehensive response after the fire broke out around 5:00 a.m. The agency confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished by 1:28 p.m.
According to the National Fire Agency, after the fire was completely extinguished, authorities are now focusing on clearing remaining embers and managing the aftermath. Once the embers are cleared, they plan to conduct a thorough investigation and inspection to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of property damage.
This fire originated from an unidentified cause in District 4 of Guryong Village and spread to the adjacent District 6. Due to the concentration of temporary structures and the area's vulnerability to fire, it escalated into a large-scale blaze. However, authorities successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the neighboring Districts 5 and 7, so there was no direct damage in those areas.
The fire authorities issued a Level 1 fire response at 5:10 a.m., and as the fire grew, escalated the response to Level 2 at 8:49 a.m. The fire was brought under control at approximately 11:34 a.m., at which point the response level was lowered, and it was fully extinguished by 1:28 p.m.
As a result of this incident, a total of 258 residents from 165 households safely evacuated: 59 people from 35 households in District 4, 68 people from 39 households in District 5, and 131 people from 91 households in District 6. No casualties have been reported so far.
The fire department mobilized 324 personnel and 106 pieces of equipment in the firefighting operation. The deployment of fire helicopters was delayed due to fog and fine dust, but as weather conditions improved, helicopters began taking off at 12:29 p.m. to assist with aerial extinguishing of remaining embers.
The Gangnam Fire Station in Seoul activated the emergency rescue control team at 5:10 a.m., mobilizing all available firefighting resources. Drones and excavators were also deployed to block the spread of the fire and remove remaining embers, while a temporary medical center was set up near the scene to prepare for the possibility of mass casualties.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government established a temporary shelter for displaced residents at Guryong Middle School and secured additional temporary accommodations to provide protection and support for those affected.
Additionally, the National Fire Agency issued a National Fire Mobilization Order, dispatching large-capacity water tankers from Gyeonggi and Incheon regions and deploying high-performance pump trucks from the Metropolitan 119 Special Rescue Unit of the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters to the scene. Six fire helicopters and seven Korea Forest Service helicopters were also placed on standby for aerial firefighting.
The Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency rushed from Sejong City to the fire scene in Gaepo-dong, Seoul, where he presided over an on-site situation assessment meeting and checked the damage. A disaster site command vehicle and emergency response team leaders were also urgently dispatched to the scene.
Kim Seungryong, Acting Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, stated, "Since the fire broke out in a vulnerable area densely packed with temporary structures, we responded with full force from the outset, keeping in mind the possibility of a large-scale blaze. We will remain vigilant until the end and do our utmost in clearing embers, ensuring safety, and determining the cause of the fire."
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