The National Forensic Service, which conducted an appraisal into the cause of last month's gas explosion in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, reportedly issued findings to the effect that the gas pipeline was inadequately sealed.
Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station said on the 6th that it received a reply from the National Forensic Service stating, "The cause of the accident is presumed to be a gas leak that occurred because a gas pipeline, which had been preinstalled for the additional installation of cooking equipment, was not capped."
However, it is reported that the opinion was offered that it is difficult to identify the ignition source that triggered the explosion.
Police plan to summon officials from the gas installation company and others based on the appraisal results to review whether to book them.
At about 4 a.m. on the 13th, a liquefied petroleum gas explosion occurred at a restaurant on the first floor of a three-story commercial building in Bongmyeong-dong, Heungdeok District, Cheongju. Seventeen nearby residents were injured by shards from shattered windows and were treated at hospitals, and more than 600 households, including apartments and dwellings, suffered property damage such as broken windows.