Hundreds flee after fire spreads through Seoul neighbourhood
The Hindu
More than 800 firefighters, police officers and public workers were deployed to fight the flame.
A fire spread through a neighbourhood of densely packed, makeshift homes in South Korea's capital on Friday, January 20, 2023 morning, destroying at least 60 and forcing about 500 residents to flee.
Officials said firefighters were bringing the fire under control at Seoul's Guryong village and there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.
Shin Yong-ho, an official at the fire department of Seoul's Gangnam district, said rescue workers were continuing to search areas affected by the fire but that it was believed that all residents have safely evacuated.
More than 800 firefighters, police officers and public workers were deployed to fight the flame and handle evacuations after the fire broke out around 6:30 am.
Photos from the scene showed firefighters fighting the flame under thick white smoke covering the village as helicopters sprayed water from above.
Shin said it was presumed that the fire began at one of the village's homes made with plastic sheets and plywood. He said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
Kim Ah-reum, an official at the Gangnam district office, said around 500 residents have evacuated to nearby facilities including a school gym. Officials were planning to later move the residents to hotels.
With a new government in place in Delhi, Singapore hopes to schedule the Ministerial Roundtable with India shortly, says Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. In an exclusive interview, he speaks about the impact of the elections on ties, the “missed opportunity” of RCEP and the new buzz around Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati.