During Apartment Fire Evacuation... Sayuri Was Turned Away at a Cafe

Sayuri revealed the story of her emergency evacuation due to an apartment fire.
/Photo by Sayuri Instagram

[Asia Economy Online Issue Team] Broadcaster Sayuri shared her experience of an emergency evacuation due to an apartment fire. During this, Sayuri revealed a story about not being able to enter a cafe because she left her phone behind and couldn’t verify the QR code, expressing her regret.

In the early morning of the 24th, Sayuri posted on her SNS about the apartment fire incident that occurred the previous day, the 23rd. Sayuri stated, "Around 9:30 a.m. today, a fire broke out on the basement level 1 of our apartment. Smoke rose all the way to our window, turning the outside hazy."

She immediately pressed the emergency bell and evacuated together with the aunt who helps take care of her child. Sayuri said, "There was already a strong smell of burning and smoke in the hallway, and in such a situation, the elevator was even more dangerous, so we went down the stairs. The further down we went, smoke was rising even on the stairs, and no matter how far we went down, the exit was nowhere to be seen, and the fear made my heart feel like it would stop."

Sayuri especially said, "What scared me the most was the thought of something happening to my three-month-old son," and added, "As soon as we got outside, I checked on my son’s condition. He was breathing hard with his small mouth. I am grateful. I want to thank everyone."

Later, trying to enter a nearby cafe with her shivering son to order drinks, Sayuri was told by the staff that without QR code verification, she could not stay inside the cafe. Sayuri explained to the staff, "Because of the fire, the aunt left quickly without her phone," and pleaded, "Please let us stay inside even for a moment for my son’s sake," but was told it was not allowed. She shared the situation and expressed regret, "I thought how nice it would have been if, like other stores, they allowed entry by writing down personal information."

Sayuri emphasized, "The reason I am writing this is not to criticize the staff," and said, "As a mother and as a human being, I ask you. If a child is shivering from the cold, please do not force them out of the store just because they don’t have a phone. That is all I hope for."

Sayuri gave birth to her son in November last year after receiving sperm donation from a Westerner at a sperm bank in Japan. After postpartum care, she is currently living in Korea with her son.

Around 9:30 a.m. today, a fire broke out on the basement level 1 of our apartment. Smoke rose all the way to our window, turning the outside hazy. I immediately pressed the emergency bell and told the aunt who helps take care of my child that we had to evacuate right away. The aunt hid Zen inside her clothes, and I ran outside holding the dogs in both hands.

There was already a strong smell of burning and smoke in the hallway, and in such a situation, the elevator was even more dangerous, so we went down the stairs. The further down we went, smoke was rising strongly even on the stairs, and no matter how far we went down, the exit was nowhere to be seen, and the fear made my heart feel like it would stop.

Still, what scared me the most was the thought of something happening to my three-month-old son. Just imagining it made me cry and feel like the sky was falling. As soon as we got outside, I checked on my son’s condition. He was breathing hard with his small mouth.

Thank you.

I wanted to thank someone?no, everyone. I was grateful that my son was still alive at this moment, and even more thankful.

In front of the security office, a child under 10 years old was standing barefoot wearing thin pajamas. There were no parents around, so I put my down jacket on him. I didn’t do it just because I was kind, but because I hoped someone would do the same if my son were in the same situation.

Not knowing how severe the fire was, I briefly left the dogs at the animal hospital right next to our house and went into the Starbucks across the apartment. My son’s lips were trembling from the cold, and I wanted to quickly get him to a warm and safe place. I was standing to order two warm drinks when the staff said I had to do the QR code first. I explained our situation, saying the aunt left quickly without her phone because of the fire, but they said we couldn’t drink inside and had to leave.

I showed them my son whose lips had turned blue and begged to let us stay inside even for a moment for my son’s sake, but they refused until the end.

I thought how nice it would have been if, like other stores, they allowed entry by writing down personal information. No... I don’t know about other Starbucks, but unfortunately, I was not informed about any personal information procedure until the very end.

The reason I am writing this is absolutely not to criticize the staff. The staff were just doing their duty to prevent COVID-19 and following guidelines. But as a mother and as a human being, I ask you. If a child is shivering from the cold, please do not force them out of the store just because they don’t have a phone.

That is all I hope for.

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