Families mourn, survivors recall chaos of South Korea hotel fire that killed seven

SEOUL: Among the seven people who died in Thursday’s (Aug 22) hotel fire in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, was a 28-year-old woman whose final moments resonated deeply with the public.

The woman, surnamed Kim, made her last desperate call to her father at 7:42 p.m., just three minutes after the fire broke out, according to JoongAng Ilbo.

“Something terrible happened. The smoke is so thick I can’t get out,” she said.

In a second call, just over five minutes later, she added: “I don’t think I can last another five minutes. Please throw away my things and live well for me.”

The tragedy happened on her father’s birthday.

Kim, known for her tireless work ethic, worked at a cell phone store by day and a fast food restaurant by night.

Her father described her as the backbone of the family as she took on significant responsibilities when they faced financial difficulties.

Kim was later found in the room’s bathroom, where she had tried to escape the flames.

The fire, which broke out on the eighth floor of the nine-storey hotel at 7.39pm, quickly filled the building with smoke.

The absence of a sprinkler system is believed to have compounded the disaster.

All seven victims were Korean nationals. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Emergency personnel faced significant challenges during rescue efforts as the 64-room hotel was dark and filled with smoke.

At the time of the fire, there were 69 people in the hotel, including 29 foreign citizens.

However, the exact number of guests present during the fire remains unconfirmed.

“Most of the guests we found sought refuge in the bathrooms to escape the smoke and were rescued from there,” said a firefighter.

A guest staying on the fifth floor recalled the initial chaos: “At first, the fire alarm went off and there were screams, then I saw smoke.

“I immediately realized how serious the situation was and fled with my companions without even gathering our belongings.”

Among those who escaped the fire were four guests from Kazakhstan.

Three people who were injured are in serious condition and are being treated in hospital.

Home Minister Lee Sang-min visited the site the following morning, pledging full support for rescue efforts and stressing the need for thorough firefighting and recovery operations.

He also called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Police opened an investigation into the fire on August 23.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency formed an 84-person team to determine the cause and investigate potential negligence in the building’s management.

The investigation team also carried out a joint on-site inspection at the scene of the fire at 11am, together with firefighters and staff from the National Forensic Service, it said. – The Korea Herald/ANN