SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - No casualties were reported after a massive fire tore through a hazardous-chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek early Tuesday, with firefighters bringing the main blaze under control in about five hours while the extent of property and chemical damage remained unclear.
The fire broke out at 12:03 a.m. at PJK's Pyeongtaek No. 1 Center in Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters.
The warehouse where the fire started contained about 1.91 million liters of chemicals, including around 100 types of Class 4 hazardous materials — a category covering highly flammable liquids such as petroleum products, alcohols and other combustible chemicals.
Fire authorities said no casualties had been confirmed as of Tuesday morning.
The blaze prompted one of the country's highest levels of emergency firefighting mobilization because of concerns that flames could spread through the chemical storage complex.
Authorities raised their response to Level 1 at 1:32 a.m. and Level 2 at 2:40 a.m. before issuing a national fire mobilization order at 3:39 a.m.
Fire engines, water tankers and chemical-response vehicles were dispatched from neighboring Chungcheong provinces, Sejong and Daejeon. A total of 95 vehicles and 238 personnel were deployed to the scene.
The main fire was brought under control at around 5:16 a.m., prompting authorities to lower the emergency response from Level 2 to Level 1. The national mobilization order remained in place as firefighters guarded against the possibility of the blaze flaring up again.
The warehouse directly affected by the fire has a floor area of about 937 square meters. It forms part of a much larger specialized logistics complex operated by PJK.
According to company information, the Pyeongtaek No. 1 Center occupies a 26,793-square-meter site with total floor space of about 9,214 square meters. It consists of six warehouse buildings and one management building.
The warehouses are equipped for frozen, refrigerated, temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled storage of hazardous materials and regulated chemicals.
PJK specializes in the storage and transportation of dangerous goods, hazardous chemicals and materials used in the rechargeable-battery industry.
Company materials show that its logistics business has handled products ranging from finished electric-vehicle and energy-storage-system batteries to cathode and precursor materials, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate and nickel sulfate.
In a company post describing its nickel sulfate logistics operation, PJK said the material is used in applications including battery cathode production and that it provides both storage and transportation services for it.
PJK has also described the Pyeongtaek operation as a top-tier facility under Korea's Chemical Accident Prevention Management Plan. In a May 2025 company posting, it said the facility had permits covering 359 chemical substances.
The company also obtained authorization from Pyeongtaek Customs in 2025 to operate a bonded area of about 2,678 square meters, allowing hazardous materials and chemicals to be stored as part of import and export logistics.
That combination has made the site an important specialized warehouse for chemicals and battery-related cargo rather than a conventional distribution center.
Fire authorities, however, had not confirmed whether rechargeable batteries, battery materials or specific substances such as nickel sulfate were actually stored inside the warehouse that caught fire Tuesday. PJK's ability to handle those products does not establish that they were involved in the blaze.
Pyeongtaek city sent emergency alerts urging nearby residents to keep windows closed and avoid going outdoors because of the fire and smoke, while motorists were advised to stay away from the area.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung ordered fire, police and local authorities to mobilize available personnel and equipment, protect firefighters working at the scene and prevent secondary damage to nearby residents and businesses.
Authorities were continuing firefighting and safety operations Tuesday morning. The precise cause of the fire, the amount of chemicals destroyed or damaged and the resulting property losses will be investigated after the blaze is fully extinguished.
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