Gyeongbuk Fire Department Rescues 8 People During Fire Suppression at Gyeongju Accommodation Facility... Rapid Life Search and Rescue Prevent Major Casualties

Photo of the fire scene at a motel in Gyeongju.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] The Gyeongbuk Provincial Fire Headquarters announced that on the 18th, they safely rescued 8 guests who were staying at a motel in Seongdong-dong, Gyeongju, during a fire.

At around 9:39 PM on the 18th, a fire broke out on the 3rd floor of a 5-story motel building in ???. The Gyeongju Fire Department deployed 70 personnel and 23 vehicles to suppress the fire while simultaneously conducting a search for people in the motel rooms.

The location of the motel had narrow roads and limited ladder truck access, creating a tense situation with concerns about casualties among the guests.

The dispatched firefighters first knocked on each room door together with motel staff to encourage 12 guests to evacuate on their own.

For the guests who had not yet evacuated, the rescue team conducting the search used hydraulic equipment and levers to open the doors and found 8 people (4 on the 5th floor, 1 on the 4th floor, and 3 on the 3rd floor). They quickly rescued them by providing auxiliary masks.

Afterwards, they conducted two additional searches for any remaining people in need of help, confirmed no further victims, and concluded the final search.

The Gyeongju Fire Department is investigating the exact cause of the fire, including the possibility of arson, based on statements that the fire started after one guest left the room.

Lee Young-pal, head of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Fire Headquarters, said, “Fires in lodging facilities used by unspecified many people can easily lead to large-scale casualties. We are relieved that the fire was extinguished without a single casualty due to prompt response, and we will continue to strengthen on-site response capabilities to do our best for the safety of the residents.”

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