Two firefighters have died after a major blaze broke out at a cold storage warehouse in southwestern South Korea, with authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the deadly incident.
The fire erupted at around 8:25 a.m. on Sunday at a seafood processing facility in Wando County, South Jeolla Province, prompting a large-scale emergency response. More than 100 firefighters were deployed to contain the flames, according to local authorities and reports from Yonhap News Agency.
Fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly three hours. However, officials confirmed that two firefighters became trapped inside the warehouse during operations and were later found dead.
Authorities believe the fire may have started while workers were using a torch to remove paint as part of floor renovation work. A company official who inhaled smoke was taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
According to Lee Min-seok, chief of the Wando Fire Station, the two firefighters had re-entered the building to extinguish remaining flames following the initial response. During that time, a sudden explosion, believed to have been caused by an oil vapor cloud near the ceiling, intensified the fire.
“Seven firefighters were ordered to evacuate after black smoke and flames were detected over radio communication, but two were unable to escape,” Lee said during a press briefing.
Investigators are examining whether highly flammable epoxy flooring contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Insulation panels inside the building may also have worsened conditions and hindered firefighting efforts.
In a statement, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said that President Lee Jae-myung had been briefed on the incident and instructed authorities to mobilize all available resources for firefighting and rescue operations.
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