Fire at Hwaseong ink factory contained, authorities say

Social Affairs

Published: 05 Jul. 2024, 11:35

Fire at Hwaseong ink factory contained, authorities say

Black smoke fumes out from an ink manufacturing factory in Jeongok Industrial Complex in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi on Friday morning. [YONHAP]

A fire broke out at an ink manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi at around 7:15 a.m. Friday in the same industrial complex where a fire killed 23 people last week.

Three workers evacuated, and fire authorities confirmed there were no casualties.

The ink factory is located in the Jeongok Industrial Complex, which also housed an Aricell battery manufacturing factory that burned down on June 24 and killed 23 people.

Authorities issued an alert of stage 1 response out of three levels at around 7:23 a.m. and mobilized 31 water pump trucks and 78 firefighters.

As of 8:30 a.m., the blaze had been contained. Fire authorities said there was no risk the fire would spread further.

The ink factory reportedly stored hazardous chemicals such as ethyl acetate and methyl ethyl ketone, according to Yonhap News Agency. It spans 1,700 square meters (18,298 square feet) and is comprised of six buildings.

Over 20 reports were filed to the fire agency as black smoke fumed out of the factory on a large scale.

The Hwaseong city government sent a safety alert to residents living near the ink factory at around 7:37 a.m., asking them to stay indoors.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the loss.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]