▲ On the 15th, a joint investigation by the police and fire department was conducted at a capsule hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, related to a fire accident that occurred the day before.
Ahead of BTS’s performance in Gwanghwamun, the police and fire authorities will conduct a second investigation into the fire at the Sogong-dong capsule hotel.
Today (16th), a representative from the National Police Agency announced during a regular briefing that they would carry out a second joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
This is an additional investigation following the initial inspection conducted the previous day.
During the first investigation, the police and fire department confirmed that a specific point within the dense capsule (room) area was severely burned, and they consider this area as the starting point of the fire.
However, the detailed cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
A police representative explained, “The conclusion should be drawn through the investigation.”
The police are currently reconstructing the events of the fire by securing testimonies from lodgers who witnessed the ignition.
At present, the possibility of arson has been ruled out.
It is reported that a Japanese woman in her 50s, who is among the three foreign nationals with serious injuries, has not yet regained consciousness.
Out of the 120 victims displaced by the fire, 85 stayed at accommodations provided by the Jung-gu Office in Seoul the previous day.
Most of them are believed to be foreign tourists.
(Photo = Yonhap News)