Thick Black Smoke Blankets Sky: Urgent Evacuation Amid Building Collapse Risks

Thick black smoke rises into the sky.

At around 2:00 PM today (16th), a fire broke out at a resource recycling facility in Jeongnam-myeon, Hyohaeng-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do.

Upon receiving a report from an official, fire authorities issued a Level 1 response at around 2:15 PM, fearing the fire would spread.

However, as the flames were not easily brought under control, they issued a Level 2 response—mobilizing all personnel and equipment from neighboring fire stations—about 30 minutes after the fire started, and are currently focusing on putting out the fire.

It was reported that a woman in her 50s near the scene sustained minor injuries during the fire, while nine facility workers evacuated on their own.

Hwaseong City sent out an emergency safety text message stating, "A fire has occurred in Gwi-ri, producing a large amount of smoke," and advised, "Nearby residents are asked to take safety precautions, such as closing windows."

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 | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.