Fire at Hwaseong Warehouse Pollutes Small Stream... Authorities Conduct Emergency Containment

Building a Dike for Flood Control Work... Blocking Jinwicheon Inflow
Polluted Section Extends 7.4 km, Completion Expected in Several Weeks

A fire at a hazardous materials storage warehouse in Yanggam-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, caused harmful substances to flow into a nearby stream, prompting authorities to launch an emergency containment operation.

Authorities are conducting containment operations using excavators and other equipment in a small stream contaminated by a fire at a hazardous materials storage warehouse in Hwaseong City. [Yonhap News]

According to Hwaseong-si and Pyeongtaek-si on the 11th, pollutants entered a 7.4 km section of a small stream near the warehouse where the fire broke out, turning the water blue up to just before the confluence with Jinwicheon in Pyeongtaek-si. Authorities estimate that the substances stored in the warehouse mixed with firefighting water during the fire suppression process and flowed into the stream.

Accordingly, Hwaseong-si, Pyeongtaek-si, and firefighting authorities began emergency containment efforts from the previous day. The containment work involves installing six containment dikes along the affected section to collect the polluted water, which is then treated through wastewater treatment facilities. In less contaminated areas, absorbent pads and similar materials are used to filter out pollutants.

Authorities closed about ten sluice gates connecting the small stream to adjacent rice paddies and fields immediately after the fire, confirming that very little contaminated water flowed into neighboring areas. However, since the polluted water has spread over a 7.4 km stretch, it is expected to take several weeks to complete the containment.

A Pyeongtaek-si official stated, "The installation of containment dikes has prevented the spread of harmful substances," adding, "We will maintain vigilance and continue monitoring until the pollutants are completely removed."

The fire occurred around 10 p.m. on the 9th at the hazardous materials storage warehouse in Yanggam-myeon, Hwaseong-si, and was extinguished around 6 a.m. on the 10th after about eight hours. The warehouse stored Class 4 hazardous materials (flammable liquids). There were no casualties from the fire.

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