Large Fire at Pyeongtaek Frozen Warehouse Construction Site... 3 Missing Firefighters Found Dead (Comprehensive)

Fire initially contained but resurged, causing suspected isolation
Large amounts of insulation and gas cylinders hinder firefighting efforts

Firefighters are extinguishing a fire that broke out on the 6th at a frozen warehouse construction site located in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A tragic accident occurred in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where three firefighters went missing and died while conducting fire suppression operations at a newly constructed cold storage warehouse.

According to the fire authorities on the 6th, a fire broke out at around 11:46 PM the previous day at a new cold storage warehouse construction site located in Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek. The fire department issued a Level 1 response at midnight and carried out extinguishing operations, controlling the major flames by 7:10 AM and lifting the Level 1 response.

However, as the fire reignited, a Level 2 response was issued at 9:21 AM, deploying 58 pieces of equipment and 189 personnel to suppress the fire again. During this process, contact was lost with three firefighters who had been dispatched to the scene.

Alongside the firefighting efforts, a search team was deployed, and at 12:22 PM that day, two firefighters were found collapsed on the second floor of the building. Another firefighter was found deceased nearby at 12:41 PM.

The last communication with them was around 9:30 AM, and it is presumed that they became trapped due to the rapid re-spread of the fire while conducting extinguishing operations on the second floor. Five personnel had been deployed; two managed to escape on their own. They inhaled smoke and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A fire official stated, "Since this is a new construction site, there are large amounts of insulation materials, oxygen tanks, and gas cylinders inside, making fire suppression difficult," adding, "Although all firefighters were equipped with safety gear such as self-contained breathing apparatuses, it appears they were suddenly trapped due to rapid fire expansion and structural collapse."

The fire is estimated to have started on the first floor of the newly constructed cold storage warehouse, which has a total floor area of 199,762.28㎡ and seven floors. At the time of the fire, floor concreting and plastering work were underway. All five workers on site evacuated safely. The fire authorities have been continuing firefighting operations for over 13 hours.

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