Around 70 firefighters mobilized for suppression efforts
Three smoke inhalation patients transported to nearby hospitals
Fire authorities and police announce joint forensic investigation
The major fire that broke out at SPC Samlip's Siwha Factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province was brought under control after about six hours. Three people were confirmed to have suffered injuries, and authorities said there is no possibility of additional casualties. The fire occurred at the same site where a worker was killed in a machinery entrapment accident eight months ago.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, a fire broke out at the SPC Samlip Sihwa plant in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, sending smoke and flames billowing. Yonhap News
According to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters and other authorities on the 3rd, the fire broke out at 2:59 p.m. that day on the third-floor bread production line in Building R (production building) of SPC Samlip's Siwha Factory in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung.
There were three workers on that floor's line. Of these, 10 people evacuated on their own, and two others took refuge on the fourth floor and on the rooftop, respectively, before being rescued by firefighters. In the process, three people - a woman in her 40s, a man in his 20s, and a man in his 50s - inhaled smoke and suffered minor injuries. However, fire authorities explained that there is no possibility of further casualties.
Kim Seokchae, head of the Fire Prevention Division at the Siheung Fire Station, held a press briefing at the scene that afternoon and said, "The number of casualties from the fire is three, all due to simple smoke inhalation," adding, "They have been transported to nearby Siwha Hospital and Ansan Korea University Hospital." Regarding the possibility of additional casualties, he explained, "So far, there is no such possibility."
Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at 3:06 p.m., seven minutes after the fire broke out. They mobilized around 50 firefighting vehicles, including pump trucks, and about 130 firefighters to battle the blaze. About six hours after the report was received, at around 6:55 p.m., they brought the major flames under control and lifted the emergency response.
Firefighters are now carrying out mop-up operations to extinguish remaining embers. As rebar on the building's rooftop has collapsed, entry into the site remains difficult. An official from the fire department said, "The building covers a large area and has limited access routes, which made firefighting operations difficult," adding, "The flames were also intense, so it took a long time to achieve the initial knockdown."
The police and fire authorities plan to conduct a joint forensic investigation at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, based on worker statements that an explosion sound was heard in the early stages of the fire, in order to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
SPC Samlip's Siwha Factory has a total floor area of 71,737 square meters. It consists of seven reinforced concrete buildings. This is the site where a worker was killed last May in a machinery entrapment accident on a cream bread production line. Although the major flames have been brought under control, SPC Samlip's safety management is once again coming under scrutiny.
The police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are conducting an investigation into alleged violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and charges of occupational negligence resulting in death. The two agencies plan to soon request pretrial arrest warrants for four individuals responsible for that accident.
An SPC Samlip official said, "We have currently halted operations at the entire factory," adding, "We are doing our utmost to support firefighting and on-site recovery efforts in cooperation with the fire authorities." The official added, "We are deeply sorry for causing concern with this fire," and continued, "We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities' investigation to promptly identify the circumstances and cause of the fire."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
