A devastating fire erupted on the 24th in the Eunma Apartment complex in Seoul’s Gangnam-gu district, claiming the life of the youngest victim: a 16-year-old high school student identified as Kim. The girl was asleep alone when the blaze broke out, trapping her in the living room as collapsed furniture blocked the door and prevented escape.
Desperate Final Moments
The emergency call came in at 6:18 a.m. Kim urgently reported, “Fire has broken out,” specifying “Daedong, Eunma Apartment.” As rescuers assessed the damage, she pleaded, “How badly am I burned? It’s so scary. The smoke smell is terrifying.”
When asked about her condition, she replied to firefighters, “I’m scared. That fire is huge. Please come quickly.” Questioned about others inside, she clarified, “There are three—my cats. I’m stuck in the living room and can’t get out.”
Neighbor’s Rescue Efforts
Neighbors, including a woman believed to be Kim’s mother and her younger sibling, made a second 119 call. In a panicked tone, they urged, “How bad is it? Fire is raging inside the house. Hurry, please.”
Firefighters arrived promptly and contained the blaze to the apartment interior, with no damage to the elevator shaft or neighboring units. The fire originated from spontaneous combustion in bedding materials.
Victim’s Condition and Aftermath
Kim sustained severe burns over 40% of her body and inhaled flames, leading to her death. Her mother and younger sibling received treatment for burns and smoke inhalation at a nearby hospital.
Kim’s mother first spotted the fire from an adjacent room, shattering a side window to alert rescuers before calling 119. She had barricaded the door with a veranda landmark to aid escape efforts.
Building Safety Concerns
Constructed in 1979, the Eunma Apartment lacks sprinklers, fire-rated elevators, and proper fire doors—features absent during its era. Residents express growing alarm, noting, “Without sprinklers, these old buildings desperately need enhanced safety measures like proper ventilation and self-closing doors to prevent future tragedies.”
