A Chinese national suspected of causing a fire in a cold storage warehouse while using a flame for paint removal work has been arrested.
According to police on the 14th, Wando Police Station in South Jeolla Province arrested a 34-year-old Chinese man, identified as A, on suspicion of professional negligence causing fire.
Police said A is suspected of negligently causing a fire on the 12th while using a torch lamp during floor paint (epoxy) removal work in a cold storage warehouse at a seafood processing company in Wando.
The court issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that A, who is staying in the country illegally, could flee and noting the seriousness of the case.
A did not answer reporters' questions as A appeared for a warrant review hearing at the Haenam Branch of the Gwangju District Court that afternoon, including "Do you admit to the charge of causing a fire by negligence," "How did the fire start," and "Do you have anything to say to the firefighters who died in the line of duty." To the question, "Do you not speak Korean," A answered, "I don't know Korean."
After the warrant review hearing, A also did not answer questions such as "Do you have anything to say."
According to police, A was found to have caused the fire while using a torch (a flame device that compresses fire to produce strong heat) to remove existing paint.
At the time, seven firefighters were dispatched to the scene and completed the first extinguishing operation, then reentered when smoke emerged inside, where two became trapped and died in the line of duty.
Police believe A, who was working alone under the direction of B, a Namsung in his 60s who heads the construction firm, caused the fire by failing to exercise due caution.
Meanwhile, police is under investigation B, who reportedly left the site during the work, over responsibility for overall safety management and possible negligence before and during the construction. If charges are confirmed, police plan to consider seeking an arrest warrant for B as well.