[Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- South Korean firefighters cited an explosion of vaporized oil from epoxy coating work as a possible cause of the deadly fire that killed three workers, including a Chinese man, and injured 37 others at a construction site this week.
The fire on Tuesday at the underground parking garage of a 24-story apartment building under construction in the central administrative city of Sejong left 14 Chinese workers injured, including one who is in critical condition.
Beijing urged Seoul to launch a quick probe, preserve the body of the Chinese victim and extend good treatment for the injured, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing, adding the Chinese embassy in Seoul is closely monitoring the situation.
In Sejong, Chae Soo-jong, who heads the city's fire department, told reporters that the fire may have been caused by an explosion of vaporized oil while coating epoxy at the underground parking lot. Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including metal coatings and structural adhesives.
The parking lot used by seven buildings together was so wide that flames have spread rapidly, he said, adding there was no fire protection facility to block smoke or flame with a lot of flammable materials stacked inside to exclude rain.
Chae quoted witnesses as saying they heard a loud bang more than 10 times. "It is not clear that a welding machine was used at the time of the explosion," he added.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
