Apartment fire in Gunpo, Gyeonggi leaves one dead, dozens injured

A fire at an apartment in Gyeonggi killed a man and injured dozens of residents on Tuesday morning, fire authorities said. A total of 14 residents were sent to hospital because of smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

A fire breaks out on the ninth floor of the apartment building in Gunpo, Gyeonggi on Tuesday morning. [GYEONGGI-DO FIRE SERVICES]

A fire at an apartment in Gyeonggi killed a man and injured dozens of residents on Tuesday morning, fire authorities said.

The man surnamed Ahn, 51, suffered from mobility difficulties and couldn't make his way out of the apartment in Sanbon-dong, Gunpo, in Gyeonggi.

Ahn’s wife and 13 other residents were sent to hospital because of smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

The wife was initially classified as seriously injured because of severe smoke inhalation. However, her condition improved after receiving medical treatment.

Fire authorities said they received a report of the fire at 7:10 a.m. from a resident in an upper unit. The fire was ultimately put out at 8:26 a.m.

At the moment of the fire, Ahn, his wife and their granddaughter were inside their apartment unit on the ninth floor.

Firefighters confirmed the identity of Ahn, whose body was discovered inside the apartment after bringing the flames under control.

Ahn’s son, who lived with the family, left home early in the morning. Thus, he was not present when the home caught fire.

“I saw my father when I left home for work, not knowing it would be the last time to see him,” the son said.

“My father suffered from health issues, especially walking difficulty, which might have prevented him from escaping,” he added.

Once Ahn’s body was carried away by an ambulance, the bereaved son and daughter sank to the ground in tears.

Firefighters check the burned unit of the apartment in Gunpo, Gyeonggi on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Residents rushed out of the building, some without even proper clothes.

“I barely escaped with a wet cloth on my mouth and nose after finding thick smoke filling the corridor,” another occupant residing in a different unit on the ninth floor said.

“You could hardly hear the fire alarm or evacuation announcement.”

A resident on the seventh floor said, “I almost fainted after smoke burst into my mouth once I opened the door.”

Gunpo fire authorities said the fire did not spread to other units, but the fire door, which was supposed to be kept closed, was left open.

Police and fire authorities will conduct a joint investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

On Christmas Day, a fire at an apartment building in Dobong District, northern Seoul, claimed two lives. Also, dozens of residents evacuated from the fire at the apartment in Suwon, Gyeonggi, last Thursday.

BY SON SUNG-BAE, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]