Police are investigating a fire that took the lives of three and injured 37 on Tuesday at a multiplex apartment construction site in Saerom-dong, Sejong City.

Of the casualties, 14 Chinese nationals were injured and one died. The deceased Chinese worker was reportedly in his 50s, while another severely affected Chinese worker is having burns treated at a local hospital. 

An on-site probe to find out the cause of the fire is to be carried out Thursday, after smoke dissipates from the building.




Police are interrogating Buwon Construction, the company responsible for the construction project, as well as visiting the hospital where the injured are staying, to find out what operation they had been carrying out in the building when the explosion occurred.

Police have heard from Buwon Construction that crack maintenance works, epoxy coating and paint works were being carried out on the day the fire broke out from an underground garage around 1:10 p.m. A lot of inflammable materials were reportedly inside the building.

Witnesses of the first flames recount an ear-splitting explosion and thick pillars of roaring fire.




Four firefighters sustained injuries during the rescue mission. Three have been discharged, while one remains in a hospital for a back injury.

The high-rise multiplex apartment was anticipating residents by December.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)