Two firefighters die while battling blaze at seafood storage facility in South Jeolla

Fire authorities work to find a missing firefighter inside a factory in Wando County, South Jeolla, after a fire broke out at the facility at around 8:25 a.m. on April 12. [YONHAP] Two firefighters died while battling a blaze at a frozen storage facility of a seafood processing company in Wando County, South Jeolla. One firefighter had initially been reported missing but was later found dead. The fire was reported at around 8:25 a.m. Sunday at the facility in Gunoe-myeon, Wando County, according to fire authorities. Related Article Police identify suspect allegedly responsible for last month’s fire at Gyeongbok Palace Submarine fire breaks out at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard, one worker reported missing Man apprehended for allegedly setting fire to ex-girlfriend’s home Fire breaks out in Incheon motel, injuring dozens and forcing emergency evacuation Two firefighters became trapped inside as the flames intensified during firefighting efforts. One was found dead at the scene. Authorities conducted search operations for the remaining missing firefighter while continuing to extinguish the fire, and later recovered the second firefighter’s body. One employee of the company was taken to a hospital after inhaling smoke. President Lee Jae Myung ordered that all available resources be mobilized for rescue operations after being briefed on the incident, senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. “Human life must be the top priority above all else,” the president said. “Make every effort to ensure the rescue of those involved, the safety of rescue personnel and the prevention of further accidents.” Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also instructed officials to ensure that no additional casualties occur and to thoroughly implement safety measures, including securing the site and guiding residents to evacuate, while prioritizing the safety of firefighters working at the scene. This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY KIM JI-HYE [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]