A fire destroyed six residential and horticultural vinyl houses near Cheonggye Mountain in Seoul on Sunday [1].
The incident leaves vulnerable residents without shelter during an extreme heat wave, compounding the hardship for those living in makeshift housing [2].
The blaze broke out at approximately 9:20 p.m. in Wonji-dong [1]. Emergency crews fought the fire for about 5.5 hours before it was fully extinguished [1].
Six people were evacuated from the site [1]. Two individuals suffered burns as a result of the fire [1]. The structures destroyed included three residential units, and three horticultural units [1].
Witnesses described a scene of rapid escalation. Lee Jae-deok, who saw the fire, said he heard fire trucks and opened his door to see a pillar of fire rising 50 meters with massive amounts of smoke [1].
Authorities have not yet reported a specific cause for the ignition [2]. The destruction of the vinyl houses, which serve as both homes and workspaces, means the affected residents have lost both their primary shelter and their means of production during a period of severe weather [2].
“A pillar of fire rising 50 meters with massive amounts of smoke”
This incident highlights the extreme vulnerability of residents in non-standard housing, such as vinyl houses, which lack the fire-resistant materials of permanent structures. The intersection of high-density makeshift housing and extreme weather conditions creates a high-risk environment where a single ignition can lead to total property loss and immediate homelessness.
