A large fire broke out in a slum in Gangnam district, south of Seoul, South Korea, forcing authorities to mobilize large-scale firefighters to control the fire.
According to a fire official, nearly 300 South Korean firefighters were deployed on January 16 to put out the fire in this area. As of the time the information was announced, no casualties have been recorded, but 47 people have been urgently evacuated from the dangerous area.
Seoul authorities have raised the fire warning level to level two, due to concerns that the fire could spread to the surrounding mountainous area. A total of 85 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene to participate in firefighting and protect the surrounding residential area.
Functional forces cannot use helicopter support from the air because the city is covered in fog and fine dust, seriously limiting visibility. This makes fire control work more difficult.
South Korean Minister of Safety Yun Ho-jung has instructed relevant agencies to mobilize all available personnel and equipment, focusing highly on the task of rescuing people and extinguishing the fire, according to Yonhap news agency.
The fire area is known as Guryong Village, a makeshift housing area located in the middle of Gangnam, Seoul's richest district. This is home to low-income households, completely opposite to the modern and luxurious image around it.
According to the plan of the local authorities, Guryong Village is expected to be redeveloped into high-rise buildings in the future.
