Black Smoke Blankets Sky: Emergency Evacuation Ordered Amid Risk of Building Collapse

Thick, black smoke billows into the sky.

A fire broke out at a resource circulation facility in Jeongnam-myeon, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, at around 2:00 PM today (September 16).

After receiving a report from a facility official, the fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at around 2:15 PM due to concerns over the fire spreading.

However, as the flames proved difficult to control, authorities issued a "Level 2 response" approximately 30 minutes after the fire started, mobilizing all personnel and equipment from neighboring fire stations to focus on subduing the blaze.

A woman in her 50s near the scene sustained minor injuries during the fire, while nine facility officials reportedly evacuated on their own.

Hwaseong City issued an emergency text alert stating, "A fire has occurred in Gwirae-ri, generating a large amount of smoke," and advised nearby residents to "close windows and take precautions for safety."

Police and fire authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the scale of the damage once the flames are completely extinguished.

(Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Na-on | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.