[26.02.24] Deadly Daechi-dong Eunma Apartment Fire Sparks Debate Over Sprinklers and Parking Issues

Fatal Fire at Eunma Apartment in Seoul’s Daechi-dong Leaves Teen Dead, Three Injured

📍Family had moved in five days earlier; lack of sprinklers and double parking hinder response

A pre-dawn fire at Eunma Apartment in Daechi-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, left a teenage girl dead and three others injured. The family had reportedly moved in just five days earlier. Concerns are mounting over aging fire safety infrastructure and delayed emergency access due to double parking.

🔹 Fire Contained in 80 Minutes
Authorities received a report at 6:18 a.m. and dispatched 143 personnel and 41 units of equipment. The main blaze was controlled at 6:48 a.m. and fully extinguished at 7:36 a.m. The ignition point is believed to be near the dining table in the kitchen area.

The deceased was found on the balcony. Her father had already left for work, leaving the mother and two daughters at home.

🔹 Moved In Five Days Earlier
Relatives said the eldest daughter made the emergency call herself. The mother sustained facial burns, the younger sister suffered smoke inhalation, and an upstairs resident was also treated for inhalation injuries. None of the injured are in life-threatening condition.

🔹 Evacuation and Safety Concerns
About 70 residents evacuated on their own. Witnesses reported shattered windows and intense flames. Some residents criticized the low volume of fire alarms.

Police and fire officials are conducting a joint investigation. No criminal suspicion has been identified so far.

🔹 Aging Infrastructure, No Sprinklers
Completed in 1979, the large complex predates mandatory sprinkler regulations introduced in 1990. Redevelopment has been delayed for decades but is currently planned for 2030.

🔹 Emergency Access Blocked by Double Parking
Fire engines reportedly struggled to enter due to illegally or double-parked vehicles. The complex lacks underground parking and provides only 0.7 parking spaces per household, leading to chronic congestion.

One-line summary : A fatal fire at Eunma Apartment has reignited concerns over aging safety systems and structural limits in old housing complexes.