Government officials hold an emergency meeting to look into a strange odor detected in southern cities. [Yonhap Photo]
South Korean government officials held an unusual emergency meeting Tuesday as a string of reports about mysterious odor sparked widespread public scare and nervousness in two southern cities.
The meeting was convened by the Ministry of Public Safety and Security to set up a team of specialists who would try to find the source of the strange smell reported by citizens in the southern port city of Busan and the nearby industrial city of Ulsan.
Police and fire stations were flooded with more than 200 telephone calls complaining about what they called "gassy smell" in many parts of the cities on July 21. They were rushed to check gas pipes and other suspicious facilities but could not find any evidence or clue, triggering rampant speculation and fear among residents.
Rumors have spread rapidly across multiple social media platforms, suggesting the strange odor and other unexplainable situations such as an army of ants found dead on a Busan beach were the precursors of natural disasters.
Experts have ruled out any seismic activities. "We want to reassure citizens that the opinions of experts are right," said Kim Hee-kyum, head of the ministry's disaster control center. "Although there is no evidence of chemical or gas leaks, we will look into the matter in a joint operation with other government bodies."
Citizens in Ulsan and Busan, however, showed distrust. "BigBi", an online community user, said: "I live in Busan and I cannot go to sleep because I am worried about the lingering smell."
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
