Following the recent electric car fire in Incheon, it is reported that many of the affected apartment units are still struggling to recover from soot contamination and water damage. (Yonhap)
INCHEON, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) –“Normal life still feels far away,” sighed an individual referred to only as Hwang, 44, as he sat in a temporary shelter at the Korean Red Cross Northwest Service Center in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon.
It’s been nearly three weeks since an electric vehicle fire in an apartment complex forced hundreds of residents from their homes.
The hallways of the shelter are lined with relief supplies — tissues, wet wipes, and toiletries. Inside the auditorium, makeshift tents stand in neat rows, a stark reminder of the disruption caused by the August 1 fire.
While water and electricity have been restored to the apartment complex and cleanup efforts are underway, many residents remain displaced as work continues to address soot contamination and water damage.
Hwang, who lived on a lower floor, is hesitant to return even after wallpapering and cleaning. “I thought the closed pantry would be fine, but when I wiped it with a wet tissue, it came away black with soot,” he explained. “We’re worried about the effects of toxic gases and fine particles on our young children.”
Another resident pointed out that some units with water damage from broken pipes can’t even begin repairs or cleaning yet, and that black mold was spreading noticeably day by day.
The situation has forced many to adapt their daily routines. Some residents have returned to work or school, commuting from the temporary shelter despite its limitations.
Following the recent electric car fire in Incheon, it is reported that many of the affected apartment units are still struggling to recover from soot contamination and water damage. (Yonhap)
“The tent space is cramped for a family of four, and there are no shower facilities. We can barely brush our teeth and wash our faces in the bathroom,” one resident complained. “But for now, we have nowhere else to go.”
As of the morning of August 21, 74 people from 25 households were still living in two temporary shelters, according to Seo-gu officials. This is a significant decrease from the 822 people from 264 households spread across 10 facilities in the immediate aftermath of the fire.
However, many others are staying with family or friends or have found short-term rentals.
Residents are now calling for expert follow-up measures beyond the initial rapid recovery efforts. They emphasize the need for comprehensive measures, including safety inspections of the damaged apartment, equipment checks, and assessments of toxic gas hazards.
Temporary tents provided for victims of an electric car fire (Yonhap)
“The government and the city of Incheon should analyze this incident thoroughly to establish new disaster manuals and take active measures to ensure appropriate compensation for damages,” insisted Kim, 43, a resident.
The fire broke out on the morning of August 1 in an electric vehicle parked in the basement garage of an apartment complex in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon.
It resulted in 23 people being hospitalized for smoke inhalation, destroyed 87 vehicles, and damaged 783 others. Underground facilities and pipes melted, causing power and water outages that lasted between five and seven days.
Police have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the accident, interviewing the first eyewitness and the owner of the Mercedes vehicle where the fire reportedly started.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
