(Comprehensive) Fire at Recycled Clothing Factory in Gwangju Pyeongdong Industrial Complex... Major Blaze Contained in 3 Hours

Fire Authorities to Investigate Cause of Incident After Clearing Remaining Embers

A large fire broke out at a factory in the Pyeongdong General Industrial Complex in Gwangju, but the main blaze was brought under control in about three hours.

According to the Gwangju Fire Headquarters and the Gwangsan District Office on June 21, a report was received at 2:08 p.m. that day regarding a fire at a recycling garment manufacturing factory in the Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, Songchon-dong, Gwangsan District, Gwangju.

Recycling garment manufacturing factory fire site in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, Songchon-dong, Gwangsan District. Provided by Gwangsan District

The fire department issued Level 1 response, mobilizing all available personnel and equipment from the local fire station, and deployed approximately 160 firefighters and 55 pieces of equipment to contain the fire.

At the time of the fire, large quantities of flammable materials such as discarded clothing and plastic were stacked inside the factory, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Entering the building was also difficult, which reportedly made firefighting efforts take a considerable amount of time.

The thick black smoke generated by the fire could be seen with the naked eye from several kilometers away, and numerous eyewitness reports from citizens flooded the 119 emergency call center.

The local government, Gwangsan District, sent out disaster warning texts immediately after the fire broke out, urging drivers to take detours and exercise caution. Additional messages were later sent to nearby residents, asking them to refrain from going outside.

About three hours after the fire started, by 4:50 p.m., the main blaze was brought under control. However, it was confirmed that two out of five factory buildings were damaged by the fire.

Fire scene at a recycled clothing manufacturing factory in Pyeongdong Industrial Complex, Songchon-dong, Gwangsan-gu. Provided by Gwangsan-gu.

Three foreign workers who were in the factory’s dormitory at the time of the fire evacuated on their own, and there have been no confirmed casualties so far. However, the fire department is using excavators to remove any remaining embers from the collapsed building debris, while also continuing to search inside and around the factory in case of potential casualties.

The fire authorities plan to investigate the exact extent of the damage and the cause of the fire by questioning the factory officials once the remaining embers are fully extinguished.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.