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Fire breaks out at Gyeongju petroleum facility, prompting evacuation alerts for nearby residents

Published: 28 Apr. 2026, 19:40

Fire authorities put out a fire that broke out at a factory in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, on April 27. [NEWS1]

A fire broke out at a petroleum-handling facility in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, on Monday, prompting emergency evacuation alerts for nearby residents.

The blaze, of unknown cause, began at around 5:05 p.m. at a factory in an industrial complex in Geoncheon-eup, according to authorities.

Fire officials reportedly deployed more than 10 pieces of equipment, including firefighting helicopters and trucks, and 27 personnel to bring the main blaze under control. The nature of the facility, however, caused large plumes of black smoke to billow from the site, complicating firefighting efforts.

Following the outbreak, the city sent emergency disaster text alerts to nearby residents, urging them to “move far away” and evacuate to a safe location.

Fire authorities said they will investigate the exact cause of the fire and check for any casualties once the blaze is fully contained.

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.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]