At least 27 people were killed and 13 others remained missing
after a massive explosion took place at a basement of a warehouse
in South Korea on Monday.
At least 27 people were
killed and 13 others remained missing after a massive explosion
took place at a basement of a warehouse in South Korea on
Monday.
The accident occurred in Icheon, 80 km southeast of Seoul, at
around 10:49 a.m. local time (0149 GMT) in the basement of a
two-story warehouse owned by the logistics company Korea 2000 and
caused heavy fire, police officers in Icheon's Police Station told
Xinhua.
Local media said there were a total of 57 people injecting
refrigerants into the warehouse or doing other works when the
explosion occurred.
As of at 08:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT), the rescue workers
have confirmed 27 death and 13 others missing in the accident.
Except for those dead or missing, seven people made to escape
safely from the spot while 10 wounded have been sent to hospitals
after being rescued.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, there are two
foreign labors among the dead or the missing. However, their
nationalities and identities are still under investigation.
Among the wounded, there is at least one foreign labor, local
reports said.
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea told Xinhua that it is
working with the South Korean government to confirm whether there
are any Chinese victims.
The local police refused to give comments on the causes of the
tragedy. However, an official from the Icheon fire station said
that inflammable vapor from the basement's engine room was believed
to have caught fire, setting off three consecutive explosions at
10-second intervals.
Police officers of the Icheon Police Station told Xinhua that
the missing people are likely dead due to the explosion, fire and
toxic smoke fulfilling in the 20,000-square-meter basement.
The death toll will rise as more death to be confirmed, local
police said.?
At least 27 people were
killed and 13others remained missing after a massive explosion took
place at a basement of a warehouse in South Korea on
Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2008)
