Fire at Apgujeong apartment caused by robot vacuum extinguished after 90 minutes

More than 20 residents were evacuated as firefighters rescued three people and extinguished the blaze.

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Fire officials inspect the apartment where a fire broke out and neighboring units after the blaze was extinguished at Hanyang Apartments in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on July 21.

A fire believed to have been sparked by a robot vacuum caused more than 20 residents to evacuate an Apgujeong-dong apartment building in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday morning.

The blaze broke out at about 10:27 a.m. in a unit at the Hanyang Apartments, according to fire authorities. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 10:47 a.m., roughly 20 minutes after it started, and fully extinguished it by 12:04 p.m. with 133 personnel and 36 vehicles.

“I saw sparks coming from the robot vacuum and evacuated immediately,” the resident of the unit told the JoongAng Ilbo at the scene. Flames and black smoke were seen billowing from the building's exterior as the fire spread. 

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Most residents evacuated on their own to nearby locations, including a senior citizens' center, while firefighters rescued three people who had remained inside the building. One resident in their 70s reported dizziness after inhaling smoke but was not believed to be in life-threatening condition.

The Hanyang Apartments complex was completed in 1978 and is included in the Apgujeong District 4 redevelopment zone. Fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blaze and the extent of the property damage.


BY HEO JEONG-WON, NOH YU-RIM [[email protected]]

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

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