Gwangyang Port Hinterland Logistics Warehouse Fire Brought Under Initial Control After 7 Days

City: "Full Extinguishment Will Take 1 to 2 More Weeks"

The large-scale fire that broke out at a logistics warehouse in the eastern hinterland of Gwangyang Port has been brought under initial control after seven days. Gwangyang City announced that the fire, which started on September 13, entered the initial containment stage at 9:15 a.m. on September 19.

Mayor Jeong Inhwa delivering a statement in front of the Integrated Support Headquarters. Provided by Gwangyang City

This fire occurred under unusual circumstances, as highly flammable alumina dross reacted with firefighting water, causing the flames to spread rapidly. As a result, the city proceeded with initial containment by covering the area with soil to completely block the flames. However, with some embers still remaining, it is expected that full extinguishment will require an additional one to two weeks.

A city official stated, "Due to the nature of dross, embers do not die out easily, so long-term on-site management is necessary. We will thoroughly monitor the site and do our utmost to prevent recurrence until all embers are extinguished."

The smoke, dust, and foul odors caused by the fire have caused significant inconvenience to nearby residents. The city sought to minimize damage by sending disaster text alerts advising residents to keep windows closed, wear masks, and avoid the fire site.

Mayor Jung Inhwa said, "I extend my deepest condolences to the citizens who have suffered inconvenience and hardship due to this fire. As the mayor responsible for city administration, I take this incident very seriously and will do my utmost to prevent recurrence and ensure the safety of our citizens."

The warehouse where the fire occurred is a large facility located in the eastern hinterland of Gwangyang Port, used for storage and processing of import and export logistics. While the exact scale of property damage is still being assessed, a significant portion of the stored goods inside the warehouse has been burned, and some facilities have reportedly sustained major structural damage.

A fire department official explained, "Although the flames have been contained, we continue to monitor the site closely, as residual aluminum inside may reignite."

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