3-1-2025 (SEOUL) A fierce blaze that erupted in a bustling commercial building in Seongnam has left more than 130 people with minor injuries, as firefighters successfully evacuated over 300 occupants from the smoke-filled structure.
The fire, which started at 4:37 pm in a ground-floor restaurant kitchen, quickly spread through the modern mixed-use complex, sending plumes of thick, dark smoke into the winter sky. Dramatic footage shared across social media platforms captured the intensity of the inferno as it gripped the building’s lower levels.
Within minutes of receiving multiple emergency calls, authorities declared a Level 2 emergency response, dispatching a massive contingent of 268 firefighters aboard 84 fire engines to tackle the blaze. The fire was finally brought under control shortly after 6 pm.
“The swift response of our emergency services prevented what could have been a far more serious incident,” said a spokesperson for the Seongnam Fire Department. “Our priority was ensuring the safe evacuation of all occupants.”
The affected building, which received its occupancy permit in July 2005, spans approximately 25,000 square metres across multiple floors. The structure houses various businesses including restaurants, medical clinics, and fitness centres, with a basement car park.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire, although preliminary findings point to the restaurant’s kitchen as the source. The incident has raised questions about fire safety protocols in mixed-use buildings across the metropolitan area.
Despite the scale of the emergency, medical officials confirmed that none of the injuries sustained were life-threatening, with most casualties treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns at nearby hospitals.
