(3rd LD) Main blaze of shantytown fire in southern Seoul contained; no casualties reported

A fire erupted in a shantytown located in the affluent southern district of Gangnam, Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon, but there have been no reported casualties thus far, according to officials. The blaze ignited around 3:50 p.m. at a makeshift structure in Guryong Village, prompting 39 residents to evacuate to safety. Fire authorities promptly issued a Level 1 emergency response at 3:59 p.m., subsequently escalating the response level after the fire began to spread.

In total, 232 firefighters and 70 pieces of equipment were deployed to the scene to combat the flames. As of now, no injuries or missing persons have been reported, and 39 people have managed to evacuate the area independently. Authorities have directed locals to a safe location and utilized six firefighting helicopters to thwart the fire from escalating into a wildfire.

Firefighting officials intend to investigate the origin of the fire and evaluate the extent of the damage once the blaze has been extinguished. The Gangnam Ward office had previously sent a safety text message to nearby residents, advising them to close their windows and advise vehicles to avoid the affected area. President Lee Jae Myung has been briefed on the situation.