On February 15, a fire broke out at the annex building of Muhak Girls' High School in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, around 1:30 PM. The fire was accompanied by intense smoke, loud explosions, and black plumes rising high into the sky, causing widespread panic.
Witnesses reported that the restaurant owner near the school urged people to evacuate quickly. One eyewitness described seeing people frantically grabbing their belongings, including phones and bags, and rushing out of the building. The restaurant is located directly across from the school.
Firefighting teams responded swiftly, with all available personnel dispatched under a Stage 1 emergency response. After more than two hours, the fire was completely extinguished. Despite this, significant damage was caused to the school’s annex, which houses the cafeteria, as well as to 11 vehicles parked nearby.
Thankfully, the school was on its spring break, meaning no students or staff were present at the time of the fire. However, the cafeteria was severely damaged, and the school announced that it would temporarily switch to providing meals through a mobile food service.
The severe smoke spread across the surrounding area, prompting Seongdong-gu authorities to issue a disaster warning, advising residents to close their windows and avoid the area. Traffic was also diverted around the site.
While the cause of the fire remains undetermined, police have stated that they are not yet able to confirm the exact origin. A joint investigation with the fire department is scheduled for February 17.
In a separate incident earlier today at around 10:15 AM, a fire broke out on the first floor of a 10-story apartment building in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The fire was extinguished in approximately 25 minutes, and a 70-year-old man was hospitalized after inhaling smoke. Several residents were evacuated as a precaution.
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