Seoul, January 20 (BNA): About 500 people were evacuated from their homes Friday morning as a fire ripped through the last remaining shantytown in Seoul, destroying at least 60 homes.
The fire broke out at 6:27 a.m. in the fourth district of Koryeong Village, located in Seoul’s posh Gangnam Ward, and was completely extinguished around 11:46 a.m. according to Yonhap reports.
There was no immediate news of deaths or injuries, Shin Young-ho, a fire official at Gangnam Fire Station, told reporters, adding that the fire engulfed about 2,700 square meters of the fire-prone city.
More than 900 firefighters, police officers and government officials were dispatched to fight the fire and handle evacuations.
There are currently about 666 households in the village. Most of the buildings are improvised structures with vinyl plywood panels.
President Yoon Suk-yul, who is visiting Switzerland for the Davos forum, called for maximum efforts in mobilizing all available firefighters and equipment to ensure there are no injuries, according to Yoon’s spokeswoman, Kim Eun-hee.
The ministry said Interior Minister Lee Sang-min also ordered officials to prevent any collateral damage and protect residents living nearby.
insignificant