Mother and Son Dead in Mapo Apartment Fire 'Battery Explosion Suspected' Joint Investigation Today
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- 2025-08-18 05:44:33
- Updated
- 2025-08-18 05:44:33
Explosion during Electric Scooter Charging... Mother and Son Dead, 13 Residents Injured
[Financial News] The bereaved family of the victims of the apartment fire in Changshin-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, testified that the battery of an electric scooter charging in the son's room exploded, prompting the police and fire department to conduct a joint investigation on the morning of the 18th. This fire resulted in the death of a mother and son and injured 13 residents, while 89 people were evacuated urgently.
According to the police and fire department on that day, a fire at 8:10 a.m. the previous day claimed the lives of a man in his 20s and his mother in her 60s. The son died at the scene, and the mother was transported to the hospital while receiving CPR but eventually died. The father suffered burns and is receiving hospital treatment.
Residents at the scene testified, "There was a bang and flames and black smoke rose from the outdoor unit side." Some reported that the evacuation was chaotic due to late and unclear announcements. The fire department mobilized 79 vehicles and 252 personnel to completely extinguish the fire by 10:42 a.m.
The fire started on the 14th floor of a 20-story apartment, and there were no sprinklers installed on that floor. This building was completed in 1998, and at that time, sprinklers were only mandatory for floors above 16, posing similar risks to many old apartment complexes nationwide.
The police and fire department are conducting a joint investigation focusing on the possibility of a battery explosion based on the testimony of the bereaved family.