South Korean firefighters battle massive fire in remaining shanty town

Fire Breaks Out in Seoul’s Fringe Neighborhood

A large fire has broken out in Guryong Village, a makeshift neighborhood located on the outskirts of Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district. The blaze began at approximately 5am local time on Friday and prompted authorities to raise the fire alert level.

According to reports, hundreds of firefighters from South Korea are battling the flames, with around 300 personnel deployed to combat the fire. Authorities have expressed concerns that the fire may spread to a nearby mountain.

Residents in the area were forced to evacuate their homes due to the fire, with elderly individuals wearing face masks being among those who left. Fire officials reported that there were no initial casualties.

The fire was described as a “towering column of black smoke” hanging over the village. A total of 85 fire trucks were dispatched to tackle the blaze, although a firefighting helicopter was unable to participate due to poor visibility.

Guryong Village is located on the edge of Gangnam district, which is known for being one of Seoul’s wealthiest areas. The village has a history dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, when low-income residents were forced to relocate from the area during major redevelopment projects.

The makeshift homes in the village are often densely packed together and constructed with materials that can be highly flammable. This assessment was made by the fire department following a blaze in 2023. Despite efforts to relocate, approximately 336 households remain in the village, according to the Gangnam District city planning department.

Source: Al Jazeera