A fire broke out at about 6:22 p.m. on the 26th at a second-floor commercial building in Bukchang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. No casualties have been reported so far.
Fire authorities have deployed about 90 personnel and around 20 pieces of equipment and, as of 7:30 p.m. the same day, are extinguishing the blaze. Because the building where the fire occurred is old and may collapse, crews are fighting the fire from outside.
A, 67, who was at a nearby shop at the time of the fire, said, "Suddenly, firefighters came in and said, 'Evacuate,'" and added, "When I went outside, it was filled with gray smoke."
The fire broke out in the heart of downtown during the evening commute, causing congestion in the area. Some lower lanes of Sejong-daero from Sungnyemun to City Hall have been closed as of about 6:48 p.m. the same day.
At about 7:28 p.m., Jung-gu, via a disaster safety text message, said, "A large amount of smoke is occurring due to a building fire," and added, "Nearby residents should beware of smoke inhalation and drivers should take detours."