Firefighters contain shantytown blaze in Seoul's Gangnam district, no injuries reported
A fire in Guryong Village, a shantytown in Seoul's Gangnam area, was brought under control after several hours, and no one was hurt.
Around 3:50 p.m., a fire broke out in a temporary structure within Guryong Village, the remaining shantytown in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district, causing 39 residents to flee. Fire authorities issued a Level 1 emergency response, briefly raised it, and then returned to Level 1 as the flames spread southward, aided by strong winds. A total of 232 firefighters, 110 pieces of equipment and six helicopters were mobilised to prevent the fire from turning into a wildfire.
After about seven hours the main blaze was contained, with the first, second and third districts of the village sustaining the most damage. The Gangnam Ward office reported that 107 people from 77 households were affected and arranged shelter at a nearby school and gymnasium. President Lee Jae Myung ordered all available resources to be used and stressed the safety of the firefighters, a directive relayed by spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. No injuries or missing persons have been reported.
Why it matters
The incident highlights fire safety risks in densely built informal settlements within major cities.
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