Joint Investigation Begins on Icheon Logistics Warehouse Fire... Full Effort to Determine 'Cause of Fire'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy (Icheon) = Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A joint investigation has begun to determine the cause of the 'Icheon Logistics Warehouse Fire' that resulted in 38 deaths.

Forty-five personnel from seven organizations including the police, fire department, National Forensic Service, Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, Korea Gas Safety Corporation, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency started a joint investigation at 11 a.m. on the 30th at the logistics warehouse fire site in Moga-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province.

This joint investigation aims to identify the cause of the explosion that triggered the disaster and the path of fire spread.

The fire authorities estimate that the fire was caused by a vapor explosion. The vapor generated from urethane work carried out in various parts of the logistics warehouse met a specific cause and exploded.

Urethane is a material widely used mainly as insulation and cushioning materials in refrigerated warehouses due to its excellent insulation performance, workability, and adhesion. However, during the urethane injection process, a chemical reaction occurs, causing the temperature to rise up to 200 degrees Celsius and generating vapor.

Currently, it is suspected that sparks from internal welding or cutting work met the vapor and caused the explosion. Most sparks occurring at construction sites are generated during such work, and some workers have testified that welding was performed during the installation of a freight elevator on the second basement floor of the logistics warehouse where the accident occurred.

However, since there are various possible causes of the fire, no possibility can be excluded at this time. The joint investigation team is expected to determine the cause of the vapor ignition, focusing on the second floor where the fire started.

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