[Anchor]

Now, let's find out what the current situation looks like. Reporter Im Jihyeon is live at the scene.

Reporter Im, first of all, how far apart are the two buildings where the fires broke out?

[Reporter]

Behind me, you can see a building with shattered glass and melted window frames. The fires broke out in succession at two buildings located just about 200 meters apart from each other.

Level 1 response was even issued, mobilizing all personnel and equipment from the jurisdictional fire station. The two buildings where the fires occurred were close enough to walk to in about two minutes.

Right now, the shutter doors of the buildings are pulled down, and while the lights are on on some floors, people are barely visible.

[Anchor]

Isn't Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, an area densely packed with buildings?

[Reporter]

Although 19 people were injured, including those seriously hurt, because it is an area densely packed with academies and offices, it was an accident that could have led to even greater casualties.

[Nearby Merchant: There were situations where people broke windows to ask for help, and (the sound of falling debris) went bang and people were like, "Whoa, what is this?" and saying, "What's that sound?"]

At the time of the fire, witnesses stamped their feet in anxiety together as they watched people who had escaped through windows standing on exterior walls and balconies waiting to be rescued.

[Anchor]

So, has the scene been cleaned up a bit now?

[Reporter]

Fortunately, there is no major disruption to citizens' commutes home. As soon as the fire broke out, the fire authorities blocked all four-lane round-trip roads and carried out firefighting operations.

As vehicles diverted, nearby roads experienced severe congestion, but after the fire was completely extinguished, traffic controls were fully lifted starting around 4:00 PM, and two-way traffic is currently flowing smoothly.

(Video by Yang Ji-hoon | Video Editing by Yoon Tae-ho)