A major Guryong Village fire tore through a densely packed settlement of makeshift homes on the edge of Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district early Friday, prompting evacuations and a large firefighter response, while officials reported no casualties.
Authorities and news reports gave different counts for how many residents left the area, ranging from dozens to more than 250, as crews worked to stop the flames from spreading toward nearby forested slopes and a mountain area.
Fire breaks out near dawn
The fire started shortly after 5 a.m. local time in Guryong Village, which multiple outlets described as one of Seoul’s last remaining shanty towns.
Fire officials and reports said the blaze was brought under control and fully extinguished later in the day, with Kyodo News and Channel NewsAsia giving the extinguishment time as 1:28 p.m., while other reports described it as taking roughly eight hours.
Evacuations and safety concerns
No injuries were reported in early updates, according to Reuters, The Independent, and Al Jazeera.
However, evacuation figures varied across reports: Reuters cited about 25 residents evacuated, US News reported 47 evacuated, The Independent said over 250 residents were evacuated, and Channel NewsAsia reported 258 residents evacuated.
Kyodo News also reported that about 200 people were displaced by the fire.
Firefighters raised concerns that the flames could spread into nearby forested areas or a neighboring mountain, and officials raised the fire alert to a higher level as crews tried to contain the spread.
Large firefighting response
Reuters reported that about 200 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze, while US News and The Independent reported that nearly 300 firefighters were sent to the scene.
US News and The Independent reported that 85 fire engines were deployed during the response.
US News and The Independent also reported that helicopters could not be used because of poor visibility caused by haze and fine dust or particulate matter, leaving crews to rely on ground operations.
What is Guryong Village?
Reuters described Guryong Village as a pocket of ramshackle, dilapidated housing located inside Gangnam, one of Seoul’s wealthiest districts.
Al Jazeera said Guryong Village sits on the fringe of Gangnam, which it described as the wealthiest area in Seoul and among the highest-priced property markets in South Korea.
Kyodo News described the settlement as being on the fringes of Gangnam and said makeshift homes were built at the foot of Mount Guryong.
Why fires can spread fast there
Al Jazeera and The Independent described the homes as tightly packed and built from combustible materials such as vinyl sheets, plywood, and styrofoam, making the area vulnerable to fires.
Kyodo News similarly reported that authorities suspected the flames spread quickly because homes used flammable materials, including thermal cotton and plywood, and said the area can be prone to electrical malfunctions.
The Independent reported that the fire originated in a vacant home and later spread to adjacent areas, and it said authorities planned to investigate the cause and damage once the site was secured.
Redevelopment plans and history
Reuters and US News reported that Guryong Village is due to be redeveloped into high-rise residential buildings.
Al Jazeera reported that the settlement emerged during the 1970s and 1980s when low-income families were displaced during redevelopment in the capital, and it said some residents settled there without official permits, citing a Seoul city planning department report.
Kyodo News reported that the village formed in the 1980s when low-income residents were forced to move as the city carried out development projects, and it said the area is awaiting redevelopment.
