A fire broke out in a high-rise apartment in Unjeong New Town, Paju, prompting an emergency evacuation of residents. Footage from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing from the upper floors of the building, raising concerns among local citizens.
According to fire authorities, the blaze started at 10:46 a.m. on the 11th floor of a 20-story apartment building in Wadong-dong, Paju.
Video captured from outside the apartment depicted large amounts of black smoke rising into the sky from the affected unit. The apartment is located near Unjeong Lake Park and a large shopping mall, leading to numerous reports and alerts from witnesses.
Three residents were treated for smoke inhalation, while 21 others evacuated on their own. A family of four lived in the affected unit but was not home at the time of the fire, avoiding any injuries.
During the firefighting efforts, one firefighter experienced exhaustion and was transported to a hospital.
In response to the potential for casualties, fire authorities declared a level 1 response at 11:05 a.m., deploying 90 personnel and 26 pieces of equipment to combat the blaze. The fire was brought under control by 12:51 p.m., and the level 1 response was lifted at 1:14 p.m.
Fire officials are currently working to extinguish any remaining embers and will investigate the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage once the situation is fully under control.
Online reactions from the public included concerns about the difficulties in extinguishing the fire, with comments such as, "I hope everyone is safe," and "The smell of smoke and soot lingers for a long time." Others noted, "I hope there are no more injuries," and emphasized the potential structural damage in apartment fires, stating, "In multi-family housing, fire insurance seems almost essential these days."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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