Sri Lankan Suspected of Causing Gas Tank Fire Released

The Sri Lankan had been suspected of triggering the fire circa 10:34 a.m. on October 7 after flying a sky lantern. (image: Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — When the Sri Lankan man suspected of having caused a large fire at a gasoline storage facility in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province was released by police following a decision not to press charges, citizens were outraged over the lack of safety measures employed by the gas tank operator and over claims that the investigation by the police had been unreasonable.

One netizen said that it is hard to believe that six employees at the facility did not see the smoke on their CCTV monitor screens.

Another netizen said that the safety management system at the gas company should be investigated rather than place blame on an innocent man from Sri Lanka.

Choi Jeong-gyu, a lawyer that represents the Sri Lankan, said that his release was only reasonable. “It is an international shame to blame a migrant worker for a fire after he flew a sky lantern,” said Choi.

Police asked state prosecutors to file an arrest warrant on two separate occasions, but prosecutors decided not to go ahead with charging the man.

The Sri Lankan had been suspected of triggering the fire circa 10:34 a.m. on October 7 after flying a sky lantern.

The lantern supposedly fell near the grass beside the gasoline storage tanks belonging to the Daehan Oil Pipeline Corporation in Deokyang-gu, Goyang.

Police officials believe the sky lantern started the fire, causing flames to spread into oil tank’s ventilation system, fueling the explosion.

The Sri Lankan admitted to having come across a sky lantern that had been used during a camping event at a nearby elementary school and setting it aloft out of curiosity.

No one was hurt in the fire, but it caused damages worth 4.3 billion won to the Daehan Oil Pipeline Corporation.

H. S. Seo (hsseo@koreabizwire.com)