A devastating apartment fire in Busan occured on June 24, South Korea, has claimed the lives of two young sisters, aged 10 and 7, leaving the local community heartbroken and raising concerns about outdated fire safety regulations.
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| Tragic Busan Apartment Fire on June 24 |
According to the Busanjin Police Station, the fire occurred at 4:15 a.m. on June 24 on the 4th floor of a 20-story apartment building in Gaegeum-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan.
At the time of the fire, the girls’ parents were out working, leaving the children at home alone. Tragically, the 10-year-old sister died at the scene from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her 7-year-old sibling, identified as “A,” was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to the hospital.
Although A briefly regained respiratory rhythm around 8 a.m., she remained unconscious and dependent on mechanical ventilation. She passed away the next morning on June 25.
Estimated Damages and Fire Cause
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| Tragic Busan Apartment Fire on June 24 |
The fire burned household items, causing an estimated 5 million KRW in property damage, according to fire officials.
78 firefighters and 22 fire engines responded quickly, extinguishing the blaze by 4:34 a.m., just 19 minutes after the call was received.
A joint investigation by police and fire officials revealed that the fire likely started due to an electrical malfunction in a power outlet connected to electronics in the living room.
It was also discovered that the floor where the fire occurred had no sprinkler system. Under current Korean fire safety laws, sprinklers are mandatory on all floors of buildings taller than six stories. However, the apartment in question was built in the early 1990s, when regulations only required sprinklers above the 16th floor.
Community in Shock
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| Tragic Busan Apartment Fire on June 24 |
The two girls were reportedly well-loved by neighbors, especially in a community where young children are rare.
“They were always cheerful and polite. They even greeted adults they didn’t know,” said one resident tearfully. “It’s heartbreaking that this happened overnight.”
Another resident recalled the moment of the fire:
“I heard a woman shouting ‘Fire!’ and she was waking her family and knocking on neighbors’ doors. My husband used a fire extinguisher to try and contain the flames. But this tragedy still unfolded.”
Family Background
The parents reportedly left home shortly before the fire, as the father had a night shift and the mother usually accompanied him to work. Neighbors described them as a loving and harmonious couple, often seen holding hands in public.
Earlier this year, the family faced financial hardship. In March, they sought welfare support at the local administrative welfare center. While the parents did not qualify for full basic living subsidies, their daughters were receiving educational support as part of child welfare benefits.
The Busanjin District Office has announced plans to offer medical and financial support to the family through the Busan Community Chest of Korea.
This tragic incident highlights not only the emotional and financial toll on vulnerable families but also the urgent need for stricter fire safety measures in older residential buildings.
Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
“24일 부산의 한 아파트에서 불이 나 10살 언니가 사망하고 7살 동생이 중태에 빠진 가운데, 주민들은 비참한 사고에 안타까운 심경을 토했다.”
Key Vocabulary:
- 아파트 – apartment
- 불이 나다 – a fire breaks out
- 사망하다 – to die, to pass away
- 중태에 빠지다 – to fall into critical condition
- ~는 가운데 – in the midst of, while
- 주민 – resident
- 비참한 – tragic, miserable
- 사고 – accident
- 안타까운 – heartbreaking, regrettable
- 심경 – feelings, emotions
- 토하다 – to express, to pour out
Grammar Notes:
- ~에서 불이 나다: a fire breaks out at (a location), 예: 아파트에서 불이 나 = a fire broke out in the apartment
- ~고 ~에 빠지다: expressing sequential outcomes, 예: 사망하고… 중태에 빠지다 = one died and the other fell into critical condition
- ~는 가운데: while, amid a situation, 예: 중태에 빠진 가운데 = while one child was in critical condition
- ~에 안타까운 심경을 토하다: to express sorrowful feelings about
Translation:
On the 24th, a fire broke out in an apartment in Busan, resulting in the death of a 10-year-old girl and leaving her 7-year-old sister in critical condition. Residents expressed deep sorrow over the heartbreaking tragedy.
Keywords
Busan apartment fire 2024, Korean fire tragedy news, Gaegeum-dong fire victims, South Korea fire safety laws, sprinkler regulation Korea, Korean sisters die in fire, 부산 아파트 화재, 부산진구 개금동 사고, 어린이 화재 사망, 한국 화재 안전법, outdated fire sprinkler law Korea, Korean welfare system support