227 stores were burned down due to a big fire in Seocheon Market in Chungcheongnam-do...9 hours of exhaustion

At 11:08 p.m. on the 22nd, a big fire broke out at Seocheon Specialized Market in Seocheon-eup, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but 227 out of 292 stores were burned down, causing significant property damage.

According to the South Chungcheong Province Fire Headquarters on the 23rd, the fire authorities upgraded the previous day to the second stage of the midnight response (a warning that mobilized 51 to 80 equipment from 8 to 14 fire departments) and deployed 361 personnel and 45 equipment to extinguish the fire at 1:15 a.m. on the 23rd, about two hours later.

It then went down to the first stage of response from 3 a.m. to clean up the remaining fire and completed the extinguishing work at 7:55 a.m. on the 23rd, nine hours after the fire broke out.

No casualties were reported due to lack of people residing in the market, but the fire burned 227 out of 292 stores. The fire destroyed all stores in the seafood building, restaurant building and general building. It did not spread to 65 stores in the annexes of the agricultural product building and food building.

Due to the nature of traditional markets, the fire spread quickly as buildings were densely populated and walls were erected in sandwich panel structure that allowed flames to easily transfer. Strong winds also made it difficult for the fire authorities to put out the fire.

The fire also sent a safety text at 11:59 p.m., saying, "The toxic gas around the market is currently leaking and dangerous, so residents should evacuate."

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the Minister of Public Administration and Security and the Fire Commissioner to "do their best to extinguish the fire by mobilizing all available personnel and equipment, and to make every effort to search and rescue so that no casualties occur, but to be thorough in the safety of firefighters."

Fire authorities are investigating the details of the fire and the extent of property damage.

Seocheon Specialized Market, which opened in September 2004 as a modern medium-sized traditional market with various amenities, handles marine products, agricultural products, household goods, and specialties in a two-story building with a total floor area of 7,018㎡.

Date: 2024-01-23

Reporter: 서화목