Last Year’s Electrical Fire Property Damage 200 Billion Won... 3.5 Times Increase in 3 Years

Damage Amount Increases Due to Wildfires in Gangwon Goseong and Sokcho

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Last year, property damage caused by electrical fires exceeded 200 billion won, increasing more than threefold compared to three years ago.

On the 28th, according to the 'Electric Safety Accident Occurrence Status' data received by Lee Gyumin, a member of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee from the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, property damage from electrical fires last year amounted to 220.7 billion won, about 3.5 times higher than 62.7 billion won in 2016.

Property damage due to electrical fires showed a continuous increase for three consecutive years, rising from 62.7 billion won in 2016 to 104.8 billion won in 2017, 113 billion won in 2018, and 220.7 billion won in 2019.

Last year's damage amount included 122 billion won from the Gangwon Goseong and Sokcho wildfire damage. The Goseong and Sokcho wildfire in April last year, which burned 1,267 hectares of forest area, was an electrical fire caused by a power line breaking due to complex defects such as aging and poor construction and management of Korea Electric Power Corporation's power lines.

Last year, a total of 8,155 electrical fires occurred, accounting for 20.3% of the total 40,102 fires. The number of electrical fires increased by 7.8% compared to 2016, and the share rose by 2.9 percentage points.

Last year, 41 people died and 295 were injured due to electrical fires. Among the causes, short circuits (5603 cases) were the most frequent. A short circuit occurs when two damaged wires come into contact, generating a large amount of heat momentarily. Poor contact (856 cases) and overload (688 cases) followed.

By location, electrical fires ignited in residential facilities such as houses and apartments were the most frequent at 2,614 cases (32.1%). Electrical fires were also common in industrial facilities such as factories and workplaces (1,564 cases, 19.2%), and lifestyle services such as small restaurants and singing practice rooms (1,321 cases, 16.2%).

Deaths from electric shock accidents also increased from 18 in 2016 to 27 last year. Injuries decreased from 528 to 481, resulting in a slight decrease in total casualties from 546 to 508.

Last year, most casualties from electric shock accidents occurred at electrical construction and maintenance sites (38.4%). By occupation, electrical technicians accounted for the largest proportion (37.4%).

Representative Lee said, "Electrical fires often lead to large-scale fires," adding, "To reduce casualties and property damage, the government and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation must do their best in preventive measures and electrical safety inspections."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.