Gwangju and South Jeolla Stay 'Calm' Over Lunar New Year... Fires and Gas Poisoning Incidents Continue

At around 11:09 a.m. on the 17th, a fire broke out at a house in Daedeok-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam, and fire authorities are carrying out extinguishing operations. Provided by Jeonnam Fire Headquarters

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During the five-day Lunar New Year holiday, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province remained relatively calm without any major incidents or accidents, but there was a steady stream of fires and everyday safety accidents of various scales.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency and the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency on the 18th, the number of 112 emergency calls during this holiday period decreased compared with a year earlier by 0.7% in Gwangju and 5.7% in South Jeolla Province. Traffic accidents also declined, with the daily average number in Gwangju down 8.8%, and South Jeolla Province maintained stable public safety with not a single traffic fatality.

However, incidents and accidents did occur in various places during the holiday.

The Gwangju Dongbu Police Station arrested a 61-year-old man, identified only by his surname A, on the 15th on charges of aggravated assault, alleging that he, enraged over a breakup notice, threatened and injured a man in his 70s he knew with a weapon. In Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, a teenager was caught while attempting to use counterfeit bills intended as movie props.

There were also family-related accidents. On the night of the 15th in Haenam-gun, South Jeolla Province, eight family members were grilling meat over charcoal in the living-room of a house when they suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and were taken to a hospital. Fortunately, it was confirmed that none of them are in life-threatening condition.

On the same morning, in an apartment building in Yeonggwang-gun, South Jeolla Province, the exterior wall finishing material began to peel away, forcing 27 residents to make an emergency evacuation.

Fires also broke out one after another amid the dry weather. On the afternoon of the 18th, the last day of the holiday, fires occurred consecutively in a forested hill area in Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si, and in Osan-myeon, Gokseong-gun, and on the previous day, the 17th, fires broke out in a wooded hill near a cemetery in Bukpyeong-myeon, Haenam-gun, and at a detached house in Daedeok-eup, Jangheung-gun, destroying forest land, houses, and other property.

There was also a spate of traffic accident injuries. On the afternoon of the 17th in Yaksan-myeon, Wando-gun, a passenger car making a left turn struck an 11-year-old pedestrian, and that same morning, a collision between vehicles at an intersection in Samho-eup, Yeongam-gun, left five people injured.

An official at the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency said, "We will continue to strengthen proactive prevention activities that residents of the city and province can tangibly feel, so that we can protect a safe and peaceful daily life."

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